This month, global firm INEOS’ Newton Aycliffe site has donated £10,000 to cancer support charity Team Solan through the international INEOS Community Fund. The grant will support the vital work of the charity throughout the Coronavirus crisis as it continues on its mission to improve the lives of families affected by cancer across Co. Durham and Darlington.
The charity was set up by Mark Solan in 2015 after he took part in white-collar boxing event to fundraise on behalf of Cancer Research UK in memory of both his mother and grandmother. Following his fundraising success Mark was inspired to support people affected by cancer throughout his local community and launched Team Solan with one clear goal: “Let’s KO cancer.”
The charity is now an important community resource working to provide emotional and practical support to people with any cancer diagnosis. Based in Spennymoor, Team Solan ordinarily is able to offer a range of support services. The premises serve as a centre for help and advice and allow the charity to offer visitors treatments and therapies and even just a place to relax and spend some time away.
Since the beginning of lockdown the charity has focussed its efforts on providing essential support to families throughout the wider community. Team Solan’s volunteers have worked at pace to meet rising public demand in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis to offer practical and emotional support to families most in need. As part of a range of services offered by the team, local people have been able to avail of help with transport to hospital and other essential medical journeys. Volunteers have also been on hand to ensure food and everyday essentials reach families in difficulty and the team has also provided a listening ear and emotional support to help people experiencing loneliness and isolation during the crisis.
Mark Solan, Founder of Team Solan, said : “We’re grateful for this incredible donation from INEOS and we are determined to put it to great use by supporting people living with cancer and their families in these even tougher days. This generous support will help us keep responding to the needs of many. Whether they need care, help with day to day tasks or even just a listening ear, we’ll be there”
The £1M INEOS Community Fund was established by INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe in March 2020 in tandem with the company’s COVID-19 “Hands On” campaign, which set up new production lines to provide millions of bottles of free hand sanitiser per month to hospitals and frontline healthcare. The fund enables INEOS sites across the world to support the charitable organisations doing vital work in their local communities at this particularly difficult time.
Janet Ward, UK Communications Manager at INEOS company INOVYN, said: “Team Solan is a truly inspiring local charity making a huge difference to the lives of people living with cancer and their families. The team of volunteers have come together to offer the most fantastic support throughout the Coronavirus crisis to people across Co. Durham and Darlington. We are delighted to be able to support this brilliant service through the international INEOS Community Fund.”
More information on the work of Team Solan and details on how you can support it can be found via its website: www.teamsolan.org.uk
