MACMILLAN Cancer Support last year awarded grants of around £1.4m in London, £33,400 of them in Hillingdon and £55,300 in Ealing, to people with cancer in financial hardship.

Grants helped people pay for heating or clothing – around £12,100 in Hillingdon and £18,600 in Ealing  -  as having cancer can mean they feel the cold more.

Approx £5,400 was awarded in Hillingdon and £12,900 in Ealing to people struggling to cover the cost of travelling to and from their appointments.

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Grants also covered other essentials, such as beds, chairs, kitchen appliances and washing machines.

Ed Tallis, Head of Services for London, said: “Our grants, funded by our supporters, covered essentials for around 3,900 Londoners in 2018, helping to make money one less worry.”