About Us

Few people live their lives without being affected by cancer at sometime. Of course, being affected by cancer does not necessarily mean having cancer. As anyone who has ever come into contact with the illness will know, cancer can spread in more ways than one. It affects not only the lives of people with cancer, but also the lives of the people around them, who support and care for them day in and day out. The South East Cancer Help Centre, Purley Cross, helps cancer sufferers and those who care for them.

Established in 1991 by Avril Hinkly, who suffered from cancer herself, it is a haven for anyone affected by the disease, providing support, a respite from hospitals and even a place to have fun. The centre is run almost entirely by volunteers. Eve Lister, our immediate past chairman of the Centre said: "This is not a place of doom and gloom - we do actually have fun and laugh here."

For a membership cost of just £15, all visitors are welcome to take part in any of the therapies, activities or support sessions which are on offer every day. Members can take advantage of the centre's extensive library, which is crammed with literature on every type of cancer.

Books, videotapes, autobiographies and diaries provide information about different types of cancers, conventional medical treatments and complementary therapies. Further information and one-to-one counselling is available by appointment, as well as support group sessions, which enable members to meet other people with cancer.

In addition to counselling services, the centre provides a wide range of complementary therapies, designed to help people cope with cancer. Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Hypnotherapy, Reflexology, Yoga, Reiki, Spiritual Healing and Tai Chi Chuan are just some of the treats currently on offer to help members relax.

As the South East Cancer Centre receives no funding from the government, the group depends entirely on donations and proceeds from fund-raising events for survival.

Current paid vacancies (January 2008) - see Volunteers page or click for details

Trustees

Mrs Jennifer Mollett
Mr  David Mollett
Mrs Joy Perkins
Dr Barry Conway           
Mr Mike Jones
Mr Tony Barranco
Dr Maurice Fishman
Mr John Manley
Mr Michael Tubbs
Ms Eve Smith
Mr Gary Das
Mr Derek Buckley
Ms Sue Taylor
Dr Victor Pace

President: June Whitfield CBE

Vice President: Malcolm Wicks MP

Staff

Centre Manager: Marian James
Administrative Support Officer: Sheila Gunter
Fundraiser: Geoff Down

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