Manx Cancer Help now has a presence in central Douglas thanks to the generous support of Hamblin.

The ‘Douglas Hub’ will become the administrative base for the charity’s fundraising and event management, freeing up space at the Lisa Lowe Centre in Braddan for the delivery of pyscho-oncology services.

The offices, in Upper Church Street, have been provided by Hamblin, the Isle of Man's premier recruitment, training and HR consultancy.

Managing Director Emma Allard said: ‘Cancer Research UK states that one in two people born after 1960 in the UK will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. Here at Hamblin there isn’t a single team member who doesn’t know someone who has suffered or is suffering, or who won or who lost a battle, with the cruel disease that is cancer. For five of our team members the dreaded “C word” has touched them in a much more personal way.

‘When it was brought to our attention that Manx Cancer Help needed office space, it was a no brainer for us and we made the offer without hesitation.’

She added: ‘Community spirit is at the heart of everything we do here at Hamblin. Cancer has and, unfortunately, will affect so many people here in the Isle of Man, so we are offering the small token of office space as our way of supporting a charity that gives so much in terms of emotional, psychological and practical support to those suffering and their families.

‘We are delighted to be associated with Manx Cancer Help and look forward to them joining us.’

Manx Cancer Help recognises the impact cancer can have not only on the individual, but also on loved ones, and gives support to anyone who needs it. It offers free and confidential specialist psychological assessment and counselling sessions, both face to face and over the phone, to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis, whether it is the patient, family members, friends or people in the caring profession working with those with cancer.

Operating from the Lisa Lowe Centre, the charity provides emotional and psychological support delivered by staff professionally trained in psycho-oncology. This specialist field is concerned with promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being for people whose lives are affected by cancer, including lifestyle, psychological and social factors.

Manx Cancer Help is entirely self-funded, so is always busy working on fundraising events and initiatives. Moving the administration of this work to new offices will create more space for service delivery at the Lisa Lowe Centre, while allowing room at the new Douglas Hub for the hustle and bustle of the busy fundraising team.

Gareth Nicholson, Fundraising Events Co-ordinator at Manx Cancer Help, said: ‘We are extremely grateful for Hamblin’s support in providing these offices in central Douglas. They have already proved a vital addition; we used them as a basepoint for the 350 competitors who took part in the Lisa Lowe Appeal Walk. Without this office space, handing out numbers, timing chips and T-shirts would have proved a real headache!

‘We look forward to converting the space into functioning offices very soon and having a presence in the central hub of Douglas.’

You do not need to be referred to Manx Cancer Help by a doctor, as the charity accepts self-referrals from anyone whose life has been touched by cancer. To find out more about the services, and whether the support could help you, call 679544 or drop in to the Lisa Lowe Centre. If it is more convenient you can also visit the Douglas Hub for more information about Manx Cancer Help and its services.

Photo - Gareth Nicholson, Fundraising Events Co-ordinator at Manx Cancer Help, with Hamblin Managing Director Emma Allard.