Cancer survivor's firm donates 1,000 care bags

The pocket hugs were donated following a campaign to engage local crafters to create a hand knitted heart

A thousand care bags for chemotherapy patients are being put together by a firm after one of its workers recovered from cancer.

The hypoallergenic comfort bags include wet wipes, lavender oil, tissues, activity books, a handheld fan, lip balm, cream and a handcrafted heart.

The bags will be donated by Staffordshire-based Inco Contracts to patients receiving cancer treatment at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

The firm says it then plans to fundraise for the supply of 500 water bottles to help individuals undergoing radiation treatment.

The bags have been designed to assist patients who are undergoing chemotherapy

“Cancer is something that touches pretty much every family in the UK and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust does an excellent job in helping treat thousands of patients every year, giving many of them the opportunity to live longer and some to have full recoveries,” said Tim Lewis, senior contracts manager for Inco Contracts in Penkridge.

The 44-year-old underwent a two-year course of treatment that involved both chemotherapy and radiation treatment after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

He received the all-clear last year and has urged more people to make sure they go for a check-up if they spot anything out of the ordinary.

The firm, which carries out industrial and commercial refurbishment schemes, has also announced plans to revamp the Deanesly Centre garden in the hospital.

Amanda Winwood, charity development manager at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, added: “The Chemo Comfort Bags, the radiation bottles and any little extras or big projects that are outside of direct treatment must be achieved through fundraising, donations or companies giving up their time to help.”