A mobile clinic supporting cancer patients with lymphoedema is to continue until the end of next month thanks to a generous £21,000 donation from health charity, Walk the Walk.

As reported by Dorset Biz News, the clinic was launched by Lewis Manning Hospice Care earlier this year as a pilot project.

AFC Bournemouth have also supported the initiative  allocating space for the vehicle to park up each week in front of the Vitality Stadium.

Clare Gallie, Hospice CEO, pictured at the launch of the clinic, said: “We are delighted with this support from Walk the Walk.

“The pilot has been a great success for lymphoedema patients over the last two months, bringing treatment and services closer to home and giving patients the ability to get to their appointments more easily and receive their vital treatment in a relaxed and stress-free environment.

“The extended pilot will allow us to support even more people closer to their homes.

“The clinic is open every Thursday from 9am to 5.30pm at AFC Bournemouth’s car park at Kings Park in Boscombe.

“There is plenty of free parking for patients, meaning local people do not have to deal with the stress and costs of travelling to the hospice which is based in Poole.

“We also offer huge thanks to the football club for their generous support in hosting the mobile clinic.

“It makes a real difference to the lives of our patients and their ability to access our services with ease.”

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk, said: “We are delighted that our grant awarded to Lewis-Manning Hospice Care will allow the charity to continue to provide vital hospice care to patients at their mobile lymphoedema clinic for June through to August.

“During these very uncertain and worrying times, this wonderful charity’s role in providing support ‘Close to Home’ for cancer patients in Dorset is absolutely crucial – lymphoedema can be one of the most painful side effects of cancer treatment.

“Grants like these are very exciting news for Walk the Walk’s amazing fundraisers, who have continued taking part in virtual walking events throughout the pandemic.

“Thanks to these fantastic people, we can continue helping to make a difference where we can, and where it is needed most”.

Amy Marks, Partnerships Manager at AFC Bournemouth, added: “We are so pleased to have the mobile unit on our site as we had heard about the fantastic services that the hospice is bringing out in the community to patients.

“It’s a real pleasure to host every week.”