The Acorn Cancer Support Group is celebrating 25 years of helping to alleviate the physical and emotional effects of a cancer diagnosis for people in St Ives and the surrounding areas.

The group’s aim over many years has been to allow people living with cancer to share their experiences, their coping strategies and to improve the quality of life for them and their loved ones through social activity, therapy and exercise, as a key part of living with or recovering from cancer.

The group was started by the Macmillan Cancer Support Group, physiotherapy and district nursing team at St Ives in 1998 and is still going strong today, hosting meetings in Huntingdon, St Ives and Ramsey, with a now separate spin-off group in St Neots.

In the past 13 years, The Acorn Cancer Support Group has helped people living with, and affected by cancer, this has included an 10,600 people attending 421 support meetings, 2,600 individual relaxation and massage therapies, 2,330 with seated exercise, 1,200 people have enjoyed the monthly film club and much more.

Gordon Dyer, Acorn secretary, said “We hope that the publicity surrounding Acorn’s 25th Anniversary celebration will reach those who were diagnosed with cancer when we were unable to help during the covid lockdown.

"We are open again and here for you. There is no need to be lonely or isolated because you have a cancer diagnosis. 

"We provide the chance to be yourself, have some fun, chat over lunch, and social outings and everything is free.”

Macmillan Engagement lead, Munashe Munyukwi, said: “It gives me such great pleasure to be celebrating 25 years of a group like Acorn. Their passion and dedication in reducing isolation, providing emotional peer support and just being there for people living with or affected by cancer in their community is truly an inspiration." 

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about The Acorn Cancer Support Group visit http://www.acornsupportgroup.org.uk or call: 07739 934524.