Cancer aid group’s hope

RELAXATION . . . Margaret Crowther with volunteer Peter Hibbert

AFTER almost 19 years of supporting hundreds of Oldhamers through cancer, a team of volunteers is celebrating being nominated for the UK’s most prestigious voluntary award.


Oldham Cancer Aid Network is in the running for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The group meets twice a month at South Chadderton Methodist Church. Financial pressures almost led to the group’s closure last year until an urgent appeal resulted in donations and support flooding in from across the community.

Alan Heywood, secretary of OCAN, said the group is overwhelmed with the nomination: “We’re a small group and we rely entirely on donations and the time of volunteers. We’ve never really made a big appeal for support but when we did last year, the response was incredible.”

The group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month, from 4pm-6.15pm. For more information contact Vera on 01457-874 927 or Alan on 07855-053 575.