We met with Andy Coldron, the co-founder of local charity ‘Something To Look Forward To’, to find out more about what led to starting this amazing charity and how people can get involved.
It all started back in 2007 when Andy’s wife Fiona was devastatingly diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. As anyone affected by cancer will know all too well, the diagnosis turned the family’s world upside down and they were thrown unwillingly into a new kind of life filled with hospital visits, treatments and fear of what was to come. They were enduring the grind of treatment and hospitals and it was one of those visits to hospital that gave them an idea. Clinique were giving out free skincare bags to patients on the cancer ward and were running special demonstrations on how to apply make up after the effects of chemotherapy and radiation had taken their toll. The recipients on the ward were thrilled to receive such a thoughtful gift and it really inspired the Coldrons to think about how other businesses may also want to run similar campaigns and give charitable donations, by way of gifts, to people going through the worst time of their lives.
Fiona did beat the cancer but sadly it returned in 2013, and this time it was incurable. It was in this darkest hour that Fiona was being made redundant and felt she needed a new focus. Fiona had worked for a charity previously and so had some knowledge on how to set up. With Andy’s skills as a web designer coming to good use too – they created ‘Something To Look Forward To’. The idea behind the charity is very simple; businesses such as hotels, restaurants, events venues etc donate experiences and gifts which the charity then distributes out to people who are financially affected by cancer. Cancer poverty is a topic that receives very little coverage in the media and, unless it’s something you have unfortunately had first-hand experience in, it’s easy to overlook. The hard fact is that for most cancer patients, having to stop working is inevitable at some point along their journey and this significantly impacts the household income. The bills still come in, the family still needs to eat and all of the little treats (that you really need now more than ever) are the first things to go. ‘Something To Look Forward To’ facilitate treats, experiences and breaks to provide light relief and the opportunity to make positive memories in what can be a very dark time. Fiona lost her fight to cancer in 2021 and had worked tirelessly through her last years to build this incredible legacy with her husband and daughter, Francesca.
Next year will mark the 10 year anniversary for ‘Something To Look Forward To’ and plans are already underway to celebrate over £2m worth of gifts being donated through the charity. Andy, Francesca and the team have been working hard to raise awareness and bring more donors and gifts on board so if you would like to get involved, we would urge you to get in touch and be a part of something amazing. Even if you don’t have a gift or experience to donate, they are looking to fill places in the Cambridge Half Marathon 2025 and London Landmarks Half Marathon 2025 as well as corporate sponsorship.
