Our Big Purple Bus marks four months on the road!

Our two Big Purple Buses have been making their way around Sheffield since the end of September, after we officially launched the project at a community launch event in Sheffield.

As well as our regular stops across South Yorkshire, our buses have made special visits to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club as part of our ‘Together at Every Step’ matchday takeover partnership and Owlerton Stadium. The bus was also showcased at our Walk As One challenge at Endcliffe Park.

For one in two people, a cancer diagnosis will change everything and when it does Weston Park Cancer Charity offers services, advice, therapies, and support to help everyone to live with and beyond cancer.

Our Big Purple Bus brings our services directly into the community for the first time ever. This crucial step is helping to ensure that people across our region have equal access to cancer support services.

Cancer can cause physical, emotional and financial challenges and thanks to our Big Purple Buses, we've been bringing our advisers into local communities, making it easier than ever to access support.

To mark four months on the road for our Big Purple Bus, we’re celebrating some highlights!

The launch of our Big Purple Bus

In August, our Big Purple Buses arrived – all wrapped and purple! In September, we officially opened the buses at a special community launch event.

As well as an official ribbon cutting by charity ambassador and friend Waheeda Younis, the event saw partners from within the community, The National Lottery Community Fund, Westfield Health, South Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, Meadowhall and Weston Park Cancer Charity’s choir join people affected by cancer to help mark the occasion.

September also saw the bus’s first public outing at our Walk As One charity challenge at Endcliffe Park. The bus also took a trip to Doncaster for the Visual Group Golf Day.

Out on South Yorkshire’s roads!

In October, the Big Purple Bus stopped at a full timetable of stops across South Yorkshire including stopping at Meadowhall, Breathing Space in Rotherham, Manor Park Centre, Prince of Wales Road in Darnall and Tinsley Community Centre.

The bus parked up at the Cancer Support Centre so staff from Weston Park Hospital and the Hallamshire could find out more about the project and how its helping to encourage people to ask questions about cancer support.

On the road at Sheffield events

The bus appeared at the charity’s fundraising event, BB with Love at Sheffield City Hall in October and also parked up at Hillsborough Stadium as part of the charity’s matchday partnership with Sheffield Wednesday.

Sharing advice with Meadowhall shoppers and stopping at Owlerton Stadium

In November, the Big Purple Bus parked outside Argos at Meadowhall for a full two-day weekend. Our wellbeing advisors helped provide advice around available cancer support to more than 100 shoppers across the weekend.

The bus stopped at Owlerton Stadium in early December, and our team spoke to the people of Hillsborough about cancer support.

Emma Clarke, CEO of Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: “We are so proud of our Big Purple Bus project, and to see the huge impact the buses are already having withing the community is truly outstanding.

“Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure that we speak to as many people within the communities as possible.

“It is fantastic that in just four months we have already spoken to hundreds of people from across South Yorkshire about the cancer support that they or their loved ones can access.

“We know we are making a huge difference in people’s lives and helping to encourage more people to come forwards and share their concerns they may have around cancer.

“By getting the support they need people affected by cancer will benefit from increased income, improved mental wellbeing and reduced isolation. Ultimately, people’s health, quality of life, and chances of survival will improve.

“Our teams are also raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer with many more local people, so cancer is detected and diagnosed early.”

The Big Purple Bus timetable is as follows:

Every Monday, 9-5pm - Manor Centre, Manor Park Lane, Sheffield, S2 1WE

The first Tuesday of every month, 9-1pm - Verdon Centre, Verdon Street, Sheffield S3 9QS

The first & third Wednesday of every month, 9-5pm - Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield, S9 1BN

Every Thursday, 8.30-4.30pm - Breathing Space, Badsley Moor Lane, East Dene, Rotherham, S65 2QL

Every Friday morning 9am-12pm - Darnall Prince of Wales Road Car Park, Darnall, Sheffield, S9 4ER

Every Friday, 12-2pm - Hanfia Masjid and Islamic Cultural Centre, 372 Sheffield Road, Tinsley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S9 1RQ

Every Friday, 2-4pm - Tinsley Community Centre Car Park, 1B Ingfield Avenue, Tinsley, Sheffield, S9 1WZ

We will be adding more dates and locations throughout 2024.