About > How It Helps
How It Helps
How funds raised for Sober October make a difference
Cancer can disrupt your whole life.
And it can be made much worse simply because of who you are or where you live.
We're doing whatever it takes to help everyone with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer, whoever and wherever they are.
People living with cancer need Macmillan now more than ever before. We’re doing whatever it takes, but without your help we can’t support everyone who needs us. That’s why we need you to take part in Sober October this year and ditch the booze to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Where the money goes
Macmillan nurses
Macmillan nurses do so much for people with cancer, from helping to ease the symptoms to providing emotional and practical support for the family.
Cancer information and support
From our free support line to information booklets to the Online Community, we answer questions, provide information and listen when people need to talk.
Help with money worries
Cancer can be tough on your finances. We help with things like benefits, grants for hospital travel and managing bills, so people can concentrate on getting through treatment.
How your money could help
Everyone living with cancer deserves the best possible healthcare and support and we will make every penny you raise count for something in someone’s life. Your fundraising will help Macmillan to provide personal support from the moment of diagnosis and whenever we’re most needed, from help with money worries, campaigning for better cancer support to simply being a listening ear.
£54
could help our welfare advisers on our Macmillan Support Line deal with a call or web enquiry.
£109
could provide emotional support to one person living with cancer for around eight weeks, through ongoing and regular telephone sessions with one of our Macmillan Telephone Buddies.
£237
could pay for a Macmillan nurse for 1 day, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support.
£341
could support our financial guides to run the financial guidance element of our phone, webchat and online service for 1 hour. In this time, they could, on average, deal with 5 calls or web enquiries, providing a wide range of financial support and advice to people affected by cancer.
Mohammad's Story
Mohammad 41, called the Macmillan Support line for help when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, after months of misdiagnosis. He had previously enjoyed an active life but he is now disabled and living with a stoma, as a result of his treatment.
“It is a disability, absolutely. I don’t think people recognise it. If I go into a toilet to change my bag, I use the disabled toilet to do so. Some don’t let you in unless you have the key and if you don’t have the key, you have to explain to them about the stoma.”
“‘Within my household, we are religious and believe in God and that life itself is a test. It’s how we perform in those tests. We took it in our stride and looked at what this was trying to teach me.”
For support, information or if you just want to chat, call Macmillan free on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk.
Important Note
Sober October is an 18+ fundraising campaign aimed at challenging social drinkers to change their habits for a month and make some healthy lifestyle changes. We would encourage people to drink responsibly and stick to the recommended daily guidelines for the rest of the year. We advise heavy drinkers or people dependent on alcohol to speak with their GP before signing up to Sober October.
