So, 2020 - what a year it has been for Wolo!

We registered as a charity. We adapted our services when Covid hit, and thanks to The Mermaid in Rottingdean and funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Chalk Cliff Trust and the Sussex Community Foundation we have hand delivered 382 food parcels/hampers to families across Sussex, with the project continuing into 2021.

We have ‘met’ sooooo many people over this last year - many on Zoom (due to Covid), nevertheless; relationships have really blossomed. We have heard so many inspiring stories, many sad stories, spoken to business owners, individuals, charity workers, and heath professionals - and we all have the same things in common - to help and support each other through the pandemic, to help raise awareness, and ultimately to help those on their cancer journeys. There is no other charity like Wolo Foundation - there are huge gaps in the services out there, and it feels wonderful to be helping to close that gap across our home county.

Thanks to you, word is getting out there about who we are and what we do, and we are now supporting 5 TIMES as many families as we were prior to the start of the pandemic - a total of 110 people that are no longer alone, and that are fully supported on their own cancer journeys. Of these, 62 are children that are either living with cancer themselves or are on the journey with their parents. We are there for every single one of them.

We feel incredibly proud that so many of you are wearing the Wolo brand with pride. It is so wonderful to see it when we are out and about - a collection goblet here, a face mask there, or a flash of a Wolo yellow top when out running - we are so grateful for your support. We even had someone recognise the brand when we were in Cornwall in the summer - how amazing is that?! Thank you to you all! 

We have collaborated with many businesses and charities over the course of 2020 - we are so touched that so many of you want to be involved, and help to make a difference. We are busy linking up with oncology departments across the county and have also teamed up with Macmillan - to help as many families as we can in practical ways on their cancer journeys. Every family’s needs are very different so we take the time to get to know them and work out how we can best support them and their circumstances. We are a bespoke charity - and by keeping our remit within Sussex, we are able to give Wolo our all, and give families that personal service that really helps to form the back bone of the support network/Wolo community that is growing all of the time.

We have also secured our first supporter of ‘core costs’ (the costs that cover the running the charity), and are looking for other companies/individuals who would like to help make a difference and become involved. Please contact us if you or your workplace may be interested. Funding is vital to ensure we can continue to deliver services, continue to grow our skill sets, continue to offer new projects and continue to reach as many families as we can to offer them our support. We have some exciting plans for 2021 that we’d love you to be part of. Please get in touch to find out more. 

Our trustees Steph and Helen have worked tirelessly to help deliver our projects and work behind the scenes to ensure the efficient and effective running of the charity. There have also been numerous volunteers that have helped with their knowledge, skills and practical help to offer the quality services we provide. THANK YOU to you all. If you are interested in becoming a trustee or getting involved with Wolo, please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. 

Despite the pandemic, we have successfully completed lots of fundraising events over the course of year - many of which were thought of, and organised by you - thank you for your commitment to raising funds for us. We have an exciting programme of alternative events lined up for 2021 - if you would like to become involved or if you’d like to do something of your own - do get in touch - we are open to anything! 

Let’s not forget us - Fler and Justin. Although we are busier than ever, we are loving life helping to make a difference to so many of you, and we have found some time to create some #wolomoments of our own - spending lots of quality time together, visiting Wales for the first time and climbing Mount Snowdon, visiting Cornwall for the first time (I know right? How had we never been there?!), and watching the sunrise on Seaford beach to name a few.

We want to continue to grow, to continue to support more families on their cancer journeys and continue to inspire you to live your lives to the full. 

2021 promises to be an exciting one for Wolo - watch this space for updates, and get in touch if you’d like to be part of it! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Wolo Foundation help families living in Sussex through their cancer journeys. They support them by offering practical help and support to make their day-to-day lives easier. They work with local businesses and communities to offer families a wealth of services to support them through their diagnosis, treatment and beyond. 

Statistics show that 1 in 2 people in the UK born after 1960 will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Life is precious - we need to make the most of it - we only live once - WOLO!