The word ‘cancer’ brings fear to many of us. Unfortunately, one in two of us will suffer from a form of cancer in our lifetimes. Cancer impacts not only the person suffering but often those closest to them too. Therefore, it is vital to have the right support in what can be an emotional and traumatic time.

Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) appreciates the importance of a strong support network in moments like this. That’s why they have set-up the EIC Assistance Programme (EAP) with the Employee and Family Support Programme (EFP) at the heart of the life changing work they do. Both employers and employees can sign-up to become a partner of EFP. Through generous donations and fundraising efforts, the Charity are able to support families through financial grants, counselling, legal help and much more for both current and former employees of the electrical industry.

The Charity have been on hand to help Zac, wife Nichola and their three young children. Living in Leeds, 39 year old Zac worked as an electrician for 20 years. Sadly, in 2016 he had a seizure and was found to have an incurable brain tumour. In 2017, his tumour was reduced in size to 20% of what it previously was but unfortunately it grew back and he is waiting for another operation to have the tumour reduced. Due to the location of the tumour, it cannot be removed, so Zac will have chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try and keep it at bay.

The original operation sadly left him with eyesight damage along with permanent memory loss. Losing his memory is something that Zac fears the most and he is saddened by the fact that he cannot remember his wedding day or the children’s names. Understandably, he has been struggling to come to terms with this.

Alongside this, Zac suffers with psoriatic arthritis in all of his muscles and joints. The pain is worsening over time and he is due to have a high-risk operation which will see the top three vertebrae of his spine bolted together and then to his skull. This will reduce the 50% movement that he currently has to 0%.

Due to Zac’s illness, he is unable to work and he and his family have struggled financially. It is now at the point that they cannot afford necessary winter clothes for their growing children. It is a very challenging time for the whole family given the circumstances, however, they have been offered a small respite in the form of a holiday.

Zac’s family are from a small town in the Wicklow mountains in Ireland and in 2014, Zac and Nichola took the children there on holiday for two weeks. They particularly enjoyed being in the countryside with the animals and tractors and seeing members of their family in local bands. They have been invited to spend some quality time as a family in the mountains where they can stay as long as they want.

During such a traumatic time for the family, this break would do them the world of good and give them the opportunity to make some new memories to hold onto forever. Sometimes you may feel as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and in many cases a change of scenery can do wonders to help make you smile again.

If you would like to help Zac and his family make some happy memories, help other families affected by cancer then sign up to become an EFP Partner and support the EIC.

Additionally, if you or someone you know has been affected by cancer and requires support, please contact the EIC support team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 0800 652 1618.