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| Nancy Corkish’s stunning Christmas card design for Manx Cancer Help, showing a flock of sheep in the snow against a backdrop of Calf Sound. |
MANY of us will face a diagnosis of cancer at some time in our lives. Whether it be yourself, a family member or a friend, it may bring with it difficult and painful feelings. But who can you talk to in confidence? Manx Can cer Help (MCH) is there for anyone who has been affected by cancer and it is launching a new fortnightly drop-in service today (Thursday) at its headquarters, the Lisa Lowe Centre in Woodbourne Road, Douglas, which it hopes will eventually be able to expand to an open door policy.
‘Anybody who’s affected by cancer in any way can come along,’ explained MCH’s chief executive Andrea Chambers.
‘When people come we’ll chat to them and see what they’ll find helpful. They can come for 10 minutes or the whole day.’
The drop-in will run from 11am to 7pm and teas, coffees and some complementary therapies will be on offer.
With the workload of the charity growing all the time there is a definite need for a dedicated base and drop-in centre.
MCH is trying to raise an ambitious £80,000 to fund this. It is hoping that its Woodbourne Road base can become a permanent home and that members of the community – including corporate entities – will support the campaign.
If you or your company can help contact Andrea on 679544 or email info@manxcancerhelp.org
MCH is a self-funding charity that receives no direct government funding.
It does, however, work closely with the Department of Health, which provides assistance in other ways, and with the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association.
Two days a month the Association funds visits to the island from Professor Robin Davidson – an eminent Belfast-based consultant clinical psychologist, who holds sessions at the Lisa Lowe Centre.
The charity is now gearing up for Christmas and its charity cards are on sale at £3.50 for 10.
As usual, the card is a Nancy Corkish design, this year called ‘A Snowy Day at the Sound’.
The cards are extremely popular and MCH is hugely grateful that the celebrated artist gives up her time to help the cause each year. The original painting is framed free of charge for us by the The Art Gallery on Buck’s Road and we sell it to the highest bidder,’ said Andrea.
‘If anybody would like to bid for the painting we have it in the office for people to look at and bids can be sent to us at Manx Cancer Help (it usually sells for about £600).
‘We also have 20 signed limited edition prints that we sell for £25 each.’
For further details see www.manxcancerhelp.org
