Jo was diagnosed with a third recurrence of tongue cancer in 2019 and required a partial glossectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Husband Andrew was her caregiver and without his magnificent support she would have not have got through it. Since then we have found The Swallows community to be an endless source of ideas and advice and a reminder that we are not alone in the issues we face. We would like to use this opportunity to raise much needed funds for them to continue their vital work.

The Swallows Charity supports all people affected by head and neck cancers patients, caregivers, friends or relatives. The patient is the focus for support, help and signposting. However the role of caregivers and others is vital too, with their own support needs often overlooked. It is our intention for every person affected by head and neck cancer to have access to support at the point they need it, by the method of their choice, on a 24/7 basis. This could be by telephone, email or social media. This is the key growth area for The Swallows and we have expanded our global reach to provide resources, enabling this 24/7 support to be freely available to all people affected by head and neck cancers.