Launch of Simple Things website

A new website—Simple Things—developed by Mummy’s Wish helps seamlessly coordinate the type of care families actually need, when they need it.

“Going through cancer is physically and emotionally draining. Acts of kindness and support, whether big or small, can mean the world to someone during and after treatment,” Mummy’s Wish Support Programs Manager Danella Martin said.

“And when a mum gets sick, friends and family have good intentions when it comes to helping, but sometimes, it’s not all that helpful.

“People send flowers and drop off ‘cancer casseroles’ and offer to help, but suddenly you’re sick from treatment and need someone to kids up from school and it takes 10 phone calls and 5 texts to find someone who can do it, and that just makes things more stressful.”

Simple Things has been designed so a mum (or her proxy) can upload tasks she needs help with, and send updates to friends or family who want to help out, connecting through email.

“Once her ‘team’ is set up, a mum can ask for help with whatever she needs—anything from picking the kids up from school to doing a hospital drop off, taking the dog for a walk or dropping off freshly-made food for the family while Mum is in hospital,” Danella said.

Each time a new task is added, Simple Things will send an email notification to the team, sharing the day and time the task needs to be completed and any necessary contact details and they can accept or ignore.

“Lending a hand is easier when you play your strengths so if you love to cook, drop off a homemade meal that can be frozen and reheated as needed; if you’re one of the school mums, offer to help with any school drop offs or pick ups,” Danella added.

“Pitching in to do these things is a much-appreciated and practical gesture of kindness—and it will be much more than another curried sausage casserole!”  

Simple Things was made possible thanks to the generous support of Aberdeen Charitable Foundation.