Cornwall Holiday Home Gives Family Affected by Cancer a Chance to Make New Memories

A Cornish holiday letting company is helping families affected by cancer take much-needed breaks, with dozens of property owners offering their homes for free stays.

Aspects Holidays, which manages properties around the Cornish coast, has partnered with the charity Something to Look Forward To to provide holiday getaways for people living with cancer and their loved ones.

Since the partnership began in 2022, around 40 homeowners working with Aspects Holidays have donated time in their properties to families affected by the emotional and financial impact of a cancer diagnosis. Many owners have continued to give regular stays.

A Break from the Routine of Treatment

One recent recipient was 47-year-old Alex Moore, who stayed with her family at ‘Serenity’, an Aspects Holidays property in Bude.

Alex, from Essex, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. In 2022, she learned the disease had spread to her spine in three places. She’s undergone surgery, intensive physiotherapy, and had to learn how to walk again.

Alex travelled to Cornwall with her husband Ben, sons Max and Jayden, and Max’s girlfriend Paige.

“You can’t put a price on how important it is, not just for me but for my whole family, especially my husband, who has basically been holding everything together for us,” said Alex.

“My hospital visits are every three weeks and then I have scans every three months. You feel like you’re just living between those appointments, waiting for a good result.

“Being able to get away for a few days and make those memories together, it makes all the difference.”

📷The Moore Family

Family Facing More Than One Challenge

Alex originally contacted Something to Look Forward To on behalf of her mum, Geri, 74, who is also being treated for secondary breast cancer. The plan was for the whole family to go away together, but just before the holiday in May, Alex’s dad John had heart surgery. He and Geri stayed behind while the rest of the family travelled to Bude.

“It was lovely, really lovely,” said Alex. “We went to the beach, the kids played in the sea while I was just happy sitting there with a book.”

She added: “You have to make the best of what you’ve got, don’t you? It’s easy to be depressed and miserable about this horrible situation, but I’ve been given the chance of being alive and what’s the point if you’re not living?

“That’s why this holiday meant such a lot to us.”

Charity and Holiday Firm Working Together

Francesca Abery, Managing Director at Something to Look Forward To, said: “We’re so pleased that Alex and her family were able to enjoy a break away in Cornwall. We’ve managed to secure so many holidays through Aspects, one of many companies that kindly support us in our aims to relieve some of the physical, mental and financial burdens that cancer can bring.”

Francesca also highlighted the “cancer poverty” many families experience, caused by things like lost income, high travel costs for treatment, and having to buy new clothes due to weight loss.

Mandy Spencer, Commercial Director at Aspects Holidays, said: “We’re extremely grateful to our network of holiday home owners whose generosity means we can offer these respite stays through Something to Look Forward To. We’d like to do more and would encourage other owners and local businesses to consider what they could offer to help more families living with cancer.”

The charity is calling on businesses and individuals to donate anything from holidays and meals out to theatre tickets and beauty treatments. To find out more, visit somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk.

📷Ben and Alex Moore

📷The Moore Family