The co-founder of the Hunts Community Cancer Network (HCCN) has been recognised for her role in setting up the group’s charity.

Susan Moore, who was a cancer patient herself, picked up the Making a Difference accolade at The 3rd Sector Care Awards, which was hosted by Dame Esther Rantzen.

Susan helped to set up the charity with the then lead nurse Gini Melesi to support people living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

The judges commented: “Susan fits the criteria for the Making a Difference Award perfectly. HCCN was developed from nothing, with no funding for the people it supports, and this individual has been key to its growth and development. The judges commented that they found Susan Moore, a trustee of HCCN, to be humble and matter-of-fact during their interview with her, and that Susan did not always get to see the impact that HCCN has had on the development of the organisation and the lives of the people it supports. It was this combination of humility and determination that’s enabled the charity to fill a gap where nothing existed before.

“Susan’s drive to help others is a model for the future support in the Community for those with Long-Term Conditions. She is instrumental in the development, efforts to grow and consolidate the Educational Conference, Get Active programme and fund-raising for the Charity.”

Gini Melesi, co-founder of HCCN and now Macmillan Quality Improvement lead, NHS East of England Cancer Clinical Network added: “Without the charity – particularly Susan - we would not be able to provide the extra nurse training, innovative equipment and technology or provide patients with evidenced-based supportive activities such as rehabilitation classes that the HCCN charity fund for the NHS patients.”

Hunts Community Cancer Network (HCCN) is made up of the Hunts Community Cancer nursing team, the HCCN charity and volunteers.

They work together to deliver a home-based nursing service that aims to help people who are recovering from, or living with, cancer in the Huntingdonshire area to take back their lives and to play an active part in managing their health. The team is based at the Woodlands Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.