This week, over 120 Boots stores across the whole of Wales joined together in a massive community effort to raise awareness of the important cancer services available from within the local community while raising much-needed funds for the charity.

Helen Watkins, Area Manager for Boots in Wales, comments: “This is the first time that we’ve run such a collaborative campaign across our stores in Wales and it was an opportunity show our local community how our trained experts are always on hand to support those affected by cancer from a safe and convenient high street location. Cancer is often the toughest fight that many people will ever face, and we know from the conversations our pharmacists have had with customers affected by cancer, talking things through can make a real difference and can have a positive impact on their lives and the lives of their family and friends.”

The awareness day was supported by all Boots colleagues in the region, where there are currently around 140 trained Boots Macmillan experts. Throughout the say, these experts were on hand to offer their support, guidance and information about cancer and its treatment for all customers, patients, family, friends, or anyone interested to learn more.  In some of its largest stores, it will also had dedicated Macmillan trained professional available.

With 130,000 people, almost 4.5 percent of the population, currently living with or beyond cancer in Wales – a number set to rise to almost 250,000 by 2030, the work that Macmillan Cancer Support does has never been more important.

 

On the day, the majority of the stores across Wales had their own Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacist, and anyone who has been affected by cancer could drop by for confidential support and advice on the wider issues that often accompany cancer as well as those relating to their medicines. There were also 45 Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors in larger Boots stores who offered discrete one to one consultations, make-overs and advice on how to manage the visible side-effects of cancer treatment. This is a tailored and personalised service developed by Boots UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, which aims to help women undergoing cancer treatment to feel more like themselves again at a time when they need it most.

Commenting on the awareness day, Susan Morris, Head of Services for Macmillan in Wales, said: “Each year in Wales, 19,000 people receive a cancer diagnosis and by 2030 nearly 250,000 people in Wales will be living with and beyond cancer.

“For some people a cancer diagnosis has a big emotional impact. It can lead to isolation and loneliness. The more opportunities there are for people to access knowledge and skills that will in turn help them feel better about themselves the better.

“The fact that people affected by cancer can access information and support from Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists, as well as make up advice from Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors, is really important in giving people the knowledge that they need to help take back control of their lives.”

As well as having awareness building activities in its stores, Boots colleagues also took part in mass-fundraising, to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support which will help make sure that no one faces cancer alone. Each store will be holding a raffle for customers, and individual stores will also be holding their own charity activities, including bake sales, sponsored cycle-athons.

Here are some pictures from our stores from the day:

 Nurses at Boots in Trostre

Macmillan cake sale in Aberystwyth

 

Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors in Bridgend

 

Fundraising in Llantrisant

Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors in Morfa

 

Pop into your local Boots store to find out more information about the Boots Macmillan services available in your community.