There are lots of straightforward, practical ways to help a friend or family member dealing with cancer. But sometimes, you want to do something unexpected – something that brings delight, as well as a helping hand. Here are a few creative ideas to get you started:

Schedule a coffee date
Take them out for tea or coffee (and baked goods, of course!) and spend some time catching up in a relaxing environment. If they're not up for leaving the house, bring over the tea or coffee and goodies instead.

Go for a drive
If your loved one is able to leave the house, take them out for a drive on a sunny day. No agenda. No map. Just a drive to enjoy the scenery, even if it's a short one. If you're somewhere warm, don't forget to roll the windows down and turn the music up!

Have fun with the little ones
For parents living with cancer, making their children happy is one of the most helpful things you can do. Offer to take the kids on an outing to the cinema, a local park or the zoo. Feeling creative? Bring over a box of outdoor chalk and encourage the kids to decorate the pavement with pictures and messages.

Tackle their chores
If you're handy, you might help with home and garden maintenance, or repair household items. You could also offer to wash the car, pitch in with laundry or do some outdoor planting when the season arrives. These are just a few creative ideas you can use to help a loved one or friend with cancer. The ByYourSide^™ app is another helpful tool to generate more ideas, communicate with each other and schedule visits or outings. It makes getting help and helping out even easier.

What other creative ways can you find or think of to give your time? Share with us on social by tagging @ByYourSide and #ByYourSide.