A MOTHER who lost her home and job while her daughter was being treated for cancer has backed a campaign to ease financial worries for families.

Vicky Turner, whose daughter Isabel Baker died from leukaemia last year just days after her first birthday, has spoken out in support of CLIC Sargent’s Cancer Costs campaign.

When Isabel fell ill, the family from Christchurch had to make several trips to different hospitals including a 350 miles journey and stay at Sheffield Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment.

“I had to give up my job as an accountant and Isabel’s dad, Luke, had to stop working as a carpenter.

“It was costing us hundreds of pounds extra each month with travelling back and forth, food and everything else.

“If you add in our loss of income it would probably be nearer thousands.

“We ended up losing our house, it came up to the end of the lease and we knew we couldn’t afford the rent so we had to move out. We had to stay in my mum’s spare room.

“We got a temporary flat from the council but it was cold and had no carpets and because Isabel had no immune system we just couldn’t stay there.”

Vicky is now calling for people to sign a petition to Prime Minister Theresa May, urging her to take action and help ease financial issues for pressured families.

“I hope everyone gets behind this important campaign; when you get a devastating diagnosis like this financial worries should be the last thing on your mind”, Vicky said.

“Becca, our CLIC Sargent social worker, was amazing - she helped me with everything and I don’t know what I would have done without her.

“Me and Luke have worked all our lives so we didn’t know anything about benefits, how the system works and what we could claim for.”

The family have set-up the Isabel Baker Foundation in memory of their beloved daughter to help other families going through the same situation.

In September, they helped organise a childhood cancer awareness event in which Bournemouth Pier was lit up for Glow Gold September.

“I know how it feels to lose your child, your job, your home and it’s so hard”, Vicky added.

For more information and to sign the petition, go to clicsargent.org.uk/ccam.