Chester-le-Street cancer charity receives grant from Tesco
Chester-le-Street residents affected by melanoma are gaining much-needed support thanks to a £1,500 grant from Tesco customers.
The Melanoma-Me Foundation offers free counselling for individuals and families affected by melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
Their aim is to create a compassionate community that helps people navigate their diagnosis, build emotional resilience, and face the challenges of the disease.
The grant forms part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme, which awards funds of £500, £1,000, and up to £1,500 to charities and community organisations that make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.
Kerry Rafferty, CEO at Melanoma-Me Foundation, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Tesco for their generosity in helping us continue delivering these essential services. Unfortunately, compared to other cancers, melanoma is usually under-represented, which makes our network even more crucial.
“Living with melanoma is life-changing, not only for the patients but also for their loved ones. Many people often feel isolated and struggle to cope with the impacts of the disease.
"As a charity that specialises in providing emotional support, we exist to make sure no one goes through this experience alone.
“We run free counselling sessions, one-to-one support, group support and holistic therapies for all those suffering from malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.
"We aim to create a safe space where they can connect, find inner strength and receive emotional support when they need it the most.”
The foundation’s group sessions take place three times a month on Tuesdays, featuring meditation and mindfulness sessions from 11am to 2pm.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We’re delighted that we can help organisations such as the Melanoma-Me Foundation which are at the heart of their communities.
"Tesco Stronger Starts invites our customers to vote using their blue token for local schemes that they feel are important to help our communities thrive, and it’s good to see the impact that the funding makes.”
The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many more local community projects and good causes in the coming years, with thousands of pounds to give away.
County Durham customers can support local charities by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.
For more information on the Melanoma Me Foundation, visit: https://melanoma-me.org.uk/
To apply for Stronger Starts funding, go online at https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk