A scheme aimed at helping head and neck cancer patients has received almost £12,000 as part of Hywel Dda Health Charities’ Charity of the Year scheme.

HARP, which is a Holistic Acute Recovery Programme, was named as the Hywel Dda Charities’ Charity of the Year in April 2017 and offers patients recovering from treatment access to advice, guidance and support on a range of issues.

These can include diet, oral hygiene, relaxation, counselling and welfare services, and the programme also helps raise awareness of possible long term side effects and to promote self management.

As part of the fundraising efforts, the HARP team arranged a number of events across the year helping to raise nearly £12,000.

Karen Howarth, Anwen Button and Emma Harries, of the HARP team, said: “This year has been absolutely amazing, we have been actively fundraising with colleagues and patients with events such as a sponsored walk around Colby Woodland Gardens, Survival of the Fittest, Swansea 10k, Christmas card sales and a Spring Ball.

“The money that we have raised has allowed us to successfully run five programmes over the last year which has provided ongoing support to patients and their relatives following treatment for cancer of the head and neck.

“We have also had the privilege of being shortlisted for the Burdett Nursing Trust Delivering Dignity Award for HARP.

“Although the Charity of the Year has ended, we will continue to fundraise to allow us to deliver HARP throughout the health board."

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