55,000 women and 400 men in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year with one in seven women developing the condition during their lifetime.
Little Lifts is a small charity which sets out to make a huge difference to people undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
Supported by a team of volunteers many of whom have a personal experience of breast cancer, Little Lifts provides gift boxes to individuals who are receiving treatment.
Contents have a practical as well as an emotional significance and can include chilli oil to add flavour to food and compensate for the side-effects that chemotherapy treatment can have on taste.
A metal free deodorant is included in the Radiotherapy Box as recommended by clinicians and heated eye masks to aid rest and relaxation post-surgery.
The MERKUR award of £2,000 will pay for Little Lift boxes for 30 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment or 44 patients who are undergoing surgery or radiotherapy treatment.
MERKUR UK General Manager Sascha Blodau said: “Little Lifts is the only charity offering this type of support specific to breast cancer patients in the UK.
“Our work with Little Lifts has been extremely well-received by the MERKUR UK team and by our customers on the high street.
“So far in 2025 the MERKUR Community programme has supported two organisations a week and our target is to match the 147 smaller charitable groups that we assisted last year.”