Richard Quigley MP Welcomes £10 Million Travel Fund For Young Cancer Patients

Richard Quigley MP has welcomed the government’s announcement of a £10 million travel support fund for children and young people with cancer, unveiled as part of the new National Cancer Plan.

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Cancer in Children and Young People, and as MP for the Isle of Wight, Richard said he was “delighted” that the Plan includes dedicated, evidence-led actions specifically focused on children and young people.

He highlighted that cancer in younger patients is fundamentally different from cancer in adults and requires a distinct approach.

Cancer in children and young people is relatively rare, biologically distinct and often more aggressive, requiring highly specialised treatment.

This care is almost always delivered far from home. For families on the Isle of Wight, that often means frequent ferry crossings and long journeys to reach mainland hospitals.

Currently, families of young cancer patients face average travel costs of around £250 a month.

Research shows that 71 per cent report financial hardship, while one in ten young patients has missed or delayed treatment because travel costs were unaffordable.

With specialist care unable to be provided locally, Richard said the new funding is “essential to ensure children and young people can access lifesaving treatment.”

He also welcomed the fact that the £10 million commitment reflects the evidence put forward by the charity Young Lives vs Cancer, whose modelling identified £10 million per year as the amount needed to properly meet families’ travel costs.

Richard said he was “pleased that the government is listening to the evidence and committing to provide the level of support young people need.”

Richard added that the announcement represents “years of collaboration across government, the NHS, charities and, most importantly, children, young people and their families.”

While welcoming the publication of the National Cancer Plan, he stressed that it is “only the beginning” and underlined the need for continued partnership to ensure the Plan delivers for all cancer patients, especially the youngest.

Isle Of Wight Survivor Welcomes The News

Young cancer survivor Victoria Ward, 25, from the Isle of Wight, who previously campaigned with Young Lives vs Cancer for the introduction of a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund, said she was “delighted” by the announcement, describing it as a significant step forward for families facing the challenges of cancer treatment away from home.