A new cancer charity is calling on west London businesses to help sufferers carry on with a normal life.
Ellie's Friends was set up to provide people with cancer free or discounted products and services as a 'ray of light' to sufferers.
The charity received a Big Lottery Fund grant to promote its services around the Charing Cross Hospital area.
Unlike other cancer charities, Ellie's Friends is not looking for financial support, but hopes local business will pledge free or discounted products or services, to help to make the lives of people with cancer more bearable.
The charity was founded by Tom Thostrup in memory of his fiancée Ellie Jeffery, who died in 2012.
He was inspired by Ellie's belief that people living with cancer could have a relatively normal, if not fabulous life.
Mr Thostrup, a TV producer, said: "We wouldn't exist without the generosity of our donors and I am hoping that we can forge some mutually profitable relationships with businesses in west London in order to make the lives of our members that little bit better."
The charity founder has been overwhelmed by support already received for Ellie's Friends but now wants to ramp it up as with new search function on their website.
He added: “It allows adults living with cancer in the UK to search for products and services local to them.”
Lisa Allen, from Ealing, thanked Ellie's Friends for "lightening the load" of cancer for a few hours for her after being awarded Have I Got News For You tickets.
She said: “I felt like I had an evening of freedom, where my worries in life were put on hold.
"Living with cancer is such a burden and strain emotionally, on me as well as my loved ones; it's easy to forget how to laugh.”
To date, the charity has given away a wide selection of experiences to its 300 members and 1,400 Facebook followers, including free massages, X-Factor tickets and weekend breaks, both in the UK and overseas.
Shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, who announced his Labour leadership candidacy, is a patron of the charity.
If you'd like to find out more about Ellie's Friends, check out their website.
