For the second year running, we will be donating 10% of our Black Friday profits to our favourite charity, Something To Look Forward To. Last year we managed to donate over £1400, and we’re hoping we’ll raise even more this time around. Help us play our small part and choose November 29th to pick your favourite D&Ds.

Two years ago, my godmother had to get a double mastectomy. My very tough mum called me crying telling me that my very tough godmother had called her crying. She was in Australia, we were in the UK. I didn’t know how to help, what to say, or what to do. We sent her a pair of D&Ds so she would at least have something comfortable and beautiful to put on in hospital. It was a TINY something to look forward too.

Joel and I both wondered, how can we do more of this? The universe stepped in and two days later Francesca from Something To Look Forward to emailed me introducing me to the charity that she and her mum had set up to support patients suffering from cancer and coping with the expenses that came with it.

For the last two years we have been doing our little bit to support this amazing charity, sending pyjamas and donating over discounting.

We sat down with Francesca and Fiona, the mother and daughter duo who founded Something To Look Forward To to find out how STLFT got started, how you can get involved, and what generosity means to them. They are absolute superwomen, and a huge inspiration to us.

Hi Francesca and Fiona. Tell us a little bit about yourselves and what you do.

We are a mother and daughter both now living in Cambridge. People say we are very similar both in our looks and personalities! We both have a strong sense of social justice, love our dogs, enjoy fitness, food, friends, family and are known for our feistiness! We have both had careers in social care and now run the multi award winning cancer charity ‘Something To Look forward To’.  

What inspired you to start Something To Look Forward To? 

‘Something To Look Forward To’ was inspired by Fiona’s incurable breast cancer diagnosis in 2013. As a family, cancer taught us the importance of making positive memories together but we also learnt that there is a hidden price tag that comes hand in hand with a cancer diagnosis known as ‘cancer poverty’. Many people are forced to stop working, are subjected to huge travel and parking costs, and even have to fundraise for their own treatments. Many people become isolated and a time when life’s little treats and luxuries are needed most, becomes the time that people can least afford them. This is how ‘Something To Look Forward To’ came into fruition and it does exactly what it says on the tin! We work closely with individuals, businesses and services encouraging them to donate ‘gifts’, ‘experiences’ and ‘essential items’ so people in need can apply for them via our charity website: https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/

What were your big dreams for it when you were getting started?

Our dream was for us to build a successful charity which would give people exactly what they needed when going through cancer surgery and treatment – ‘something to look forward to’! Our vision was for all people experiencing the effects of cancer, together with their families, to be able to access a gift, experience or essential item of their choice in order to increase well-being, relieve stress and aid recuperation. In the beginning, we started by sourcing gifts and experiences from people in our personal networks and we always dreamed to be working with top brands just like Desmond & Dempsey!

How do the donations impact the lives of the people on the receiving end?

The donations of ‘gifts’, ‘experiences’ and ‘essential items’ we receive go directly to people and families affected by cancer and are never used for fundraising purposes like many other charities. We provide families with weeklong cottage holidays both in the UK and abroad, restaurant meals, spa breaks and theatre tickets to bring some normality to their lives and give them a break from the world of cancer. We offer beauty treatments and complimentary therapies which allow people opportunities to relax and unwind and essential items including clothes, toiletries and nightwear for those who are severely financially affected and struggle to afford the basics. We rely on community and corporate fundraising to deliver our service which is why the financial support as well as gift donations from businesses like Desmond & Dempsey are so important to small charities like ours.

Is there a time of year when these donations make the biggest difference? 

The people we support are in need of support from our service all year round but as the weather gets colder during the winter months, we see an increase in people requiring more essential items including warm clothing, bedding and nightwear to keep them warm during treatment. We work closely with hospitals, hospices and cancer support services to ensure the items we gift reach those most in need. As it is for most people, the festive period is a time when families wish to provide nice things for their children and loved ones – maybe even themselves! We work hard to ensure we have sourced lots of lovely gifts and experiences on our site for people to apply for to give them a well-deserved boost.

How can people get involved and make a difference?

We are always looking for new gifts, experiences and essential items for the people we support affected by cancer poverty. You might have a holiday home you could spare a week in https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/donating-holiday-home-or-cottage-to-charity/, you might be able to offer a service or product, or you might know somebody who could donate a voucher or experience. The list is endless for the things we provide including Ferrari rides, photoshoots and afternoon teas! You can also help keep our multi award winning service running by donating some money which goes directly towards our service delivery: https://localgiving.org/charity/somethingtolookforwardto/ We also offer support to anyone who would like to take on a fundraising activity for ‘Something To Look Forward To’ so if you’re up for a challenge we’d be grateful for your support https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/fundraisers/.

What does generosity mean to you?

Generosity is what the ‘Something To Look Forward To’ ethos is built upon. When it comes to cancer, we are all ‘in it together’ so human kindness is paramount. There are always ways that you can help those in need and often in creative ways. People can come in so many forms; from volunteering their time, donating their services, gifting product or delivering an incredible campaign like No Black Friday. We value the huge generosity of Molly, Joel and Desmond & Dempsey and so do the people who use our service.