October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and many Griffith residents touched by breast cancer speak with tremendous gratitude of how Can Assist is able to take the financial worry out of their cancer treatment journey.

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A cancer diagnosis can often mean job loss or a dramatic decrease in income for many people. Added on top of the emotional and psychological stress, the associated costs of travel for treatment can plunge a person with cancer and their family into extreme financial hardship.

"Can Assist began with the idea that all country cancer patients facing financial trauma, receive direct financial assistance," Olga Forner, Chairwoman of Can Assist said.

They are an entirely volunteer run not-for-profit that have been in operation in Griffith for 22 years. Every dollar raised through charity events like the famous City to Lake Fun Run, goes directly to cancer patients in Griffith and the surrounding villages.

"We are here to support patients with travel and accommodation costs for if a person needs to travel out of Griffith to receive treatment," Mrs Forner said.

"We also support any of the incurred medical costs they encounter because a cancer journey is lengthy and costly particularly for the country patient because they have to leave their community to seek treatment."

But it has been a challenging year for Can Assist too with COVID-19 shutting their office and therefore making it harder for them to reach out to people needing support.

"People with cancer have compromised immune systems which put them at high risk during the height of COVID," Mrs Forner explained.

"A lot of our volunteers were at risk too due to their age."

Supporting Can Assist could mean the world of difference to a person suffering from cancer in the Griffith Community. To give to Can Assist visit their Give Now page here.

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