1. Cancer Support Centres
The charity has two support cancer centres; one in Essex, one in London and a third is planned for Hertfordshire. The centres offer support to cancer patients along with their carers, families and friends through counselling, support groups, reflexology, aromatherapy, massage and manual lymph drainage.
2. Clinical Drug Trials
More than 40 drug trials are operated by the charity’s team of research nurses. They provide care to patients on the trials and offer 24-hour medical assistance.
3. Research Laboratory
Scientists at the laboratory are undertaking world-class research into breast cancer. The laboratory is manned by three scientists and is located within Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, Essex.
In addition a network of 11 Helen Rollason Cancer Charity retail shops is open across Hertfordshire, Essex and London
Further Information
Cancer Patient – A person who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
Carer – A person caring for someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. They are often family members, friend or even neighbours who give their time to look after the cancer sufferer. Many people become carers as a result of the situation and sometimes suffer financial strain, in addition to the emotional and physical effects, as they reduce their work load to commit themselves to being a carer.
Our services – Helen Rollason Cancer Charity funds three services:
1. Clinical Drug Trials
2. Cancer Support Centres
3. Cancer Research Programme
Research nurses – care for patients on clinical drug trials offered by the charity. They provide 24-hour medical advice and are the main point of contact for cancer patients on the trials. The team of nine research nurses operate more than 40 trials at two centres in the south east: Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex and North Middlesex Hospital, Edmonton, London.
Research scientists – are currently undertaking pioneering studies into cancer. The team of three scientists at the charity’s research laboratory in Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, are studying genes which may be used for the early diagnosis of the disease.
Cancer Support Centre therapists – provide treatments at the cancer centres such as counselling, reflexology, aromatherapy, Bach flower remedies and manual lymph drainage.
Fundraiser – a person committed to organising an event from which the proceeds go towards the charity so it can continue providing its services.
Tips for reporting on cancer – with the statistics that one in three people are affected by cancer in the UK, this frightening reality means cancer is a sensitive issue affecting a large percentage of any media audience. It is therefore essential to be cautious when reporting on cancer.
In many cases, stories from the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity will be related to fundraising, but often people only fundraise because they have had a connection to cancer.
Please bear in mind, these make excellent news stories, but having personal details in the news is often difficult to digest, especially if the cancer is being hidden from those outside of close family and friends.
However the charity fully understands the positive impact media can have on cancer issues such as the increased awareness of cervical cancer since Jade Goody was diagnosed.
The charity funds three main services and wants to spread the word about what is on offer, so we welcome any questions from the media on our research laboratory work, clinical drug trials and our cancer support centres.
Contact
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity’s PR Officer is the main contact for journalists’ enquiries about the charity.
Melissa Matthews
PR Officer
Tel: 01245 514700
E-mail Melissa Matthews
Registered Charity No. 1052861
Patron: Lord Coe KBE
Share your story
Have you been helped by us?
Helen Rollason Cancer Charity needs people who have benefited from our services to help raise awareness of cancer, inform more people of what the charity can offer cancer sufferers, gather support for our services and attract funding to continue our services.
If you are interested in telling your story to the press or giving comments for us to use anonymously, we would like to hear from you.
Please e-mail our Press Officer.
Charity timeline
1996: HEAL Cancer Charity is formed and has three main aims: to provide holistic therapies, fund research and buy equipment
1998: Helen Rollason attended a HEAL ball in 1998 as a guest of honour
January 1999: Helen Rollason launched an appeal in her name to raise £5m for a new cancer centre
July 2000: Professor Davidson, former Chief Executive Grainne James and two research nurses moved to Broomfield Hospital.
The Helen Rollason Appeal office was established at St John’s Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex while the HEAL Cancer Charity remained at North Middlesex.
January 2001: The charity entered into collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University after finding a location for its first cancer support centre in Chelmsford, Essex.
January 2002: First cancer support centre opens in Essex (Rochelle House)
2002: The charity’s first retail shop opens in Barkingside
2002: Chingford shop opens
2002: £300,000 was raised to build the Helen Rollason Chemotherapy Unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex.
February 2003: Chemotherapy unit opened and is managed by Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.
2003: Sawbridgeworth shop opens
2003: Wickford shop opens
April 2003: Research Laboratory launched in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University
2003: Ongar shop opens
2003: South Woodford shop opens
February 2004: Second cancer support centre opened by Helen’s daughter Nikki in London (North Middlesex Hospital)
2004: Collier Row shop opens
April 2004: Live Well Experience launched
2004: Burnham on Crouch shop opens
September 2005: HEAL Cancer Charity and the Helen Rollason Appeal unite to form the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity
2005: Braintree shop opens
2007: Go for Gold campaign launched to improve the Essex cancer support centre
2008: Witham shop opens
2008: Research Laboratory moves to new ARU campus
2009: Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity marks its 10th anniversary
February 2009: Danbury shop opens
February 2009: Research Laboratory has its official re-launch
