Mobile cancer services and information will be bought to the area as part of a new initiative to help rural people overcome the barriers of location and distance to access cancer services and information.

The new service will visit 13 towns throughout the western region from August 25 to September 28 as part of its first tour of more than 70 regional NSW towns.

The Cancer Council is encouraging residents to visit the outreach service to obtain free cancer information, become cancer smart with interactive displays and use telephone and internet connectivity to access the Cancer Helpline and internet support forums.

Coles will be supporting the outreach service.

Regional Manager at the Cancer Council’s Western Regional Office, Ruth Fagan, said visitors would be able to chat to the outreach service staff in an informal or confidential manner about any aspect of cancer and find out more about the work of the Cancer Council.

“Thanks to Coles we can work to break down those distance barriers and connect people by delivering cancer information in an immediate setting,” Ms Fagan said.

The Cancer Council outreach service will be in Bathurst on September 11 and 12.