Charities & VolunteeringNewsScotsdales Garden Centre teams up with Cambridge Cancer Help Centre Scotsdales Garden Centre teams up with Cambridge Cancer Help Centre
15/05/2008
The Cambridge Cancer Help Centre is a registered charity and was founded by Marilyn Barnes in 1986 to support those suffering from cancer and their families and friends, by teaching methods of relaxation, by providing counselling and non-medical advice, and by offering a wide range of complementary therapies. Importantly, it provides a place in which to meet other people who have had the same cancer as oneself.
In a first for garden centres, Scotsdales have helped fund, build and create the new premises for the charity on the centre’s land. The Cambridge Cancer Help Centre were struggling to find a suitable location in which to relocate and Scotsdales were incredibly generous in offering land and support.
David Rayner, the owner of the garden centre showed no hesitation in getting involved, and consequently all aspects of the community have chipped in and helped build the new centre. Local plasterers, plumbers, scaffolders, etc, have all been charitable enough to offer their services for free to the cause and the time has almost come for the centre to officially open.
Many of the volunteers were sufferers or have suffered from cancer and so the cause is very close to their hearts. The centre still need to raise around £300k to break even but they are confident through fund-raisers and contributions this will not prove too difficult.
For the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre it has been a dream come true. Not only have they brand new premises but the opportunity to offer support and care for many more people. The charity offers support to cancer sufferers, their families and friends and enables them to receive complimentary therapies, such as massage and various treatments, as well as simply being a support group where people can socialise and talk. Whereas before they were restricted by opening hours and space, the new building will allow for much more versatility and care.
The co-ordinator of the Cancer Help Centre organisation in Cambridge, Ann Dingly, is very excited about the official opening. "It has been truly amazing watching the community really rally around and help us get the centre built and established. The building started on July 1st last year and we are almost ready to open the doors. Our aim is to provide a context in which people can help themselves to resist the disease by enhancing their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Help is available to all without payment, though most of our clientele are happy to become subscribing members.
"It is our proud boast that all first-time visitors leave the Centre in a calmer frame of mind than whey they arrived. We are now able to cater for more people from Cambridge and outside of Cambridge. We are very grateful to Scotsdales as without them we would not have been able to relocate, expand and evolve as a charity."
For more information about Cambridge Cancer Help, visit the website below.