By Isle of Wight Observer
IW West MP Richard Quigley has welcomed the announcement of a new £10 million travel support fund for children and young people with cancer, unveiled as part of the National Cancer Plan.
As Chairman of the All‑Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer in Children and Young People, Richard said he was “delighted” with the news, stressing that cancer in children and teenagers is “fundamentally different” from adult cancers, often more agressive and almost always requires specialist treatment far from home.
For Island families, that distance is especially stark. Young patients travel to Southampton or beyond for treatment, often facing repeated ferry journeys and long days away from home.
Charity, Young Lives vs Cancer identified £10 million a year as needed to meet families’ travel costs. Richard said he was “pleased the government is listening to the evidence and committing to the support young people need.”
He added: “This grant will make a significant difference for families and patients who have to travel across the Solent, especially people like Victoria Ward from the Island, who at age 21 was forced to give up her flat due to the overwhelming cost of travelling for lymphoma treatment. This won’t just ease the financial pressure – it will give reassurance during an already worrying and vulnerable time.”
Victoria sometimes paid over £200 for a return ferry ticket and helped to deliver a petition to Downing Street calling for the fund. She said: “A taxi from the ferry could be £12–15 just to get up the road. Parking was £20–23 each visit. People say ‘it’s only £20’, but that £20 is my week’s food.”
Victoria also had to stop working, making the financial pressures even harder and ultimately had to give up her flat. “It was a case of either I keep my own safe space or I die,” she said. “My flat was my achievement after previously being homeless. Giving it up was devastating, but I had no choice.”
Richard said the announcement reflects “years of collaboration” across charities, the NHS and families, but emphasised that delivering the plan “is only the beginning.”
