COVID-19 has impacted on us all.
But for charities like Help Harry Help Others (HHHO) the impact and constant changes have been relentless.
In March founder and Harry’s mum Georgie Moseley were preparing for the annual ball which raises around £50,000 for the charity, which supports over 800 cancer patients and their families across Solihull and Birmingham, when lockdown hit.
Since then every fundraising event has been cancelled or scaled back.
Georgie said: “It is a very difficult time for all right now.
“Covid is impacting on individuals and business in many, many ways.
“Like many industries, the third sector has been hit hard as understandably people have other worries right now.
“It’s been emotionally and physically draining and I am also frustrated for our clients who are vulnerable with heightened fears around both cancer and Covid.
“Our annual charity ball, which was due to take place on March 21, was postponed just five days before it was due to go ahead and this has pretty much been the picture for the remainder of 2020.
“The sad thing is that without the income and support from the public, we cannot deliver the lifeline of support that we do.”
HHHO was the creation of inspirational Sheldon youngster Harry, who died in 2011 at the age of just 11 after a four-year battle with a brain tumour.
In 2015 Georgie opened a cancer drop-in centre in Stechford which became a one-stop shop for families to go to for everything from benefits advice to support groups for families and patients, craft groups and careers advice and wig and bra fitting services.
The charity had been planning to open a second centre.
Georgie said: “At the start of lockdown we had to close our doors and like many, literally overnight had to work remotely.
“Covid is at the forefront of everything right now, the clients we support are those most vulnerable and in self isolation meaning the demand on our counselling services has increased.”
She said clients are quite fearful of reintegrating into society especially with rising Covid figures.
Currently the charity can only offer limited services which fall in line with current government guidance.
Run by two members of staff, it now calls families to see how they are, does shopping collection and deliveries for those living alone and has created online workshops to allay fears and anxieties around cancer and Covid-19.
Despite all this Georgie is determined to keep going.
She said: “Covid may have brought on lots of change and be making things difficult and tiresome right now but I have been through worse in my life and I’m determined to be here and continue supporting as best we can.
“I am very proud of the work we deliver, the adaptations we have made to support clients and also the fact that we are still standing.
“We have already witnessed the sad closure of Breast Cancer Haven in Solihull which was part of a larger charity.
“This makes me more determined to ensure we have somewhere for local people to reach out and get the immediacy, empathy, urgency, and support they need. Whatever the future looks like, we have to and will come through this stronger.
“I think whatever the future looks like Harry would be proud.
“I have always done my best to achieve the only goal I had which was “to do the best I can as Harry’s mom”.
“I will always be proud of the team’s achievements to date, and it is an achievement that has enabled us to donate more than £1million, open the first drop in cancer centre of its kind and support thousands of families.”
To donate call 0121 783 5407, email [email protected] or visit www.hhho.org.uk
