Hi everyone - I'm Georgie.

My best friend; who is 30 years old and just married, came back from her honeymoon to discover a lump in her breast and was quickly diagnosed with breast cancer. This turned her life upside down, from all aspects - so when she then was turned down for a blue disabled badge it was another element she and so many others going through anti-cancer therapy just don't have the capacity to fight.

She was unable to apply for a blue disabled parking badge due to the fact that her cancer isn’t recognised as being a disability. I’m asking for your help to change the current situation of disabled blue parking badge allocation and patients going through Anticancer Therapy.  

Current Situation:

Over 1m people undergoing anticancer therapy aren’t currently eligible for blue badges. This needs to change.   

To be eligible for a blue disabled badge; according to the Gov website, ‘You have a disability and have a great difficulty walking from your car to where you want to go’. One of the key side effects of anticancer therapies is ‘Hand-foot syndrome’; which can ‘irritate the soles of the feet[1]’ and hinder mobility. This should therefore allow anyone who is going through anticancer therapy to be eligible for a blue disabled badge for the duration of their treatment. 

Proposed Solution: 

Allow any person who is undergoing anti-cancer therapy to be eligible for a blue badge for the duration of their treatment 

Now, in terms of what anticancer therapy is defined as is as per the SSA:  

• Surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation 
• Chemotherapy followed by surgery 
• Chemotherapy and concurrent radiation 

To be eligible for a blue badge, the person undergoing treatment would have to show evidence of the duration of their treatment from the hospital or relevant insurance company.   

I've messaged several people within Parliament to get the ball rolling but if we can get this picked up in the local news with as many signatures as possible this may kick start the conversation.

Thank you all!

Georgie x 

Note 1 https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/covid-19/sact