CANCER patients in the Wee County have received combined grants of around £17,200 from Macmillan, thanks to the hard work of supporters and fundraisers.

The money was given to Clackmannanshire locals in financial hardship with around £13,300 alone for heating or clothing, as cancer can lead to patients feeling the cold more and they may be spending more time at home between treatments.

Circa £2,000 was given out to support people struggling with the cost of travelling to and from appointments with costs that could not be claimed otherwise.

Other essentials like beds, chairs, kitchen appliances and washing machines can also be secured with grants from the charity.

And it was also thanks to generous donors, chief among them the S6 classes at Alva Academy.

As previously highlighted, the secondary has raised more than £300,000 for Macmillan since 2004, putting it firmly at the top of the table in the league of charitable schools when it comes to donating to the cancer charity.

Janie Preston, Macmillan’s head of services in Scotland, said: “Half of us will get cancer at some point in our lives so I’m pleased Macmillan awarded around £17,200 in grants last year to ease their money worries of people with cancer in Clackmannanshire.

“Cancer can affect so many parts of your life and our Macmillan grants, funded by our supporters, covered essentials from heating to travel costs for more than 90 people with cancer in Clackmannanshire in 2018 helping to make money one less worry.

“Grants are just one-way Macmillan is there for people with cancer thanks to the public’s support and I’d urge anyone with cancer to get in touch to find out how we can support you.”

Any cancer patient in hardship looking for financial help can visit macmillan.org.uk/moneyworries or call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 0000.