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The home of cancer support in Essex

Our aim is to provide a safe space where you can be yourself and do not have to put on a brave face. A place where you can have enjoyable, relaxing and calming treatments in the knowledge that you are not alone.

How we can help

Our centres support clients with all types of cancer at all stages, whether newly diagnosed or longer term, throughout and after completion of treatment. Founded in 1999, the charity is the legacy of BBC broadcaster Helen Rollason, whose vision was: “Good quality of life while coping with cancer is the most important gift a sick person can receive. It should be available to everyone.”

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity supports adults who have received a cancer diagnosis within the last 3 years, and their carers, who are being treated for cancer by an Essex hospital.  

Ways we can support you

Support Centres

Complementary Therapies

Support Groups

Celebrating Helen Rollason's 70th Birthday

This year marks what would have been Helen Rollason’s 70th birthday.
 
To honour this special milestone, Helen Rollason Cancer Charity – the home of cancer support across Essex will be celebrating Helen’s life and legacy throughout the year with a series of events and activities.
 
Helen’s vision was simple but powerful: “Good quality of life while coping with cancer is the most important gift a sick person can receive. It should be available to everyone.” Today, that vision continues to guide everything we do as we support individuals and families across Essex when they need us most.
 
Join us as we celebrate 70 years of Helen’s legacy and the lasting difference it continues to make.

Other ways you can support us

Marvellous Vintage

Walk for Helen

Father Christmas Experience

Christmas Tree Collection

Ride for Helen

Hold a Tea for Helen Event

Helen Business Hero

Challenges

Volunteer

Charity Shops & eBay

Collection Tins

Amazon Wishlist

Donate today!

Help us make a difference for those living with cancer.

Make a difference, our support begins with yours

£5

Could pay for refreshments for a day in one of our centres 

£10

Could fund a drop-in Support Group session for a client 

£40

Could provide a session of counselling to someone needing a safe space to talk

£50

Which could fund a Reflexology treatment, providing a much needed time of relaxation

£50

Could pay for a massage treatment; reducing anxiety, muscle tension and improving overall wellbeing

£75

Which could fund a Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage, supporting those dealing with lymphedema following cancer treatment 

£200

This could fund a 4-6 week Support Group programme for a client living with cancer

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agreed that our services improved their quality of life

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clients we support per year

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client appointments per year

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attend our support groups per year

Tom Carr

I worked as a urologist with a special interest in cancer until my retirement in 2016. The patient journey with a new cancer is now often long and complex. Many need help to live their best life after treatment. Simple survival and the absence of cancer is not enough, feeling well and whole again is the goal. Social and psychological support makes all the difference. I am happy to help Helen’s charity to deliver that.

Kully Byatt

I have retired following a career at a senior management level in a range of sectors specialising in Human Resources, Project Management, Coaching and Mentoring skills. In addition since 2000 I have undertaken a number of voluntary Trustee roles for a range of organisations.

Through my desire to give back to a Charity that my mother personally benefitted from by utilising Complementary Therapies, I have for a couple of years volunteered for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity in the Retail Team and more recently this has inspired me to take up the role of Trustee so that I can contribute to the governance of HRCC in continuing to deliver vital services that benefit the community.

Jacqui Goulbourn

I’m a qualified accountant with over 20 years experience working in the NHS in Essex and beyond.  I know how vital charities in the healthcare arena are, to fill in where government funding doesn’t reach.  As a volunteer Trustee, I am pleased to be able to offer my skills and experience to help HRCC deal with these challenges, allowing staff to have a greater focus on providing services to the clients.

Friederike Englund

I am a cancer nurse by background and have supported those affected by cancer for over thirty years. I have worked very closely with the team at Helen Rollason and have seen the tremendous benefit and improvement in wellbeing that patients and carers experience through the support they receive. I am very keen to ensure that Helen Rollason widens its reach across all communities in Essex and offers support services that are effective and based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence.

Dave Johnson

I have always wanted to give something back following a corporate career in business development for technical services within the automotive industry.

I joined HRCC as a trustee to offer support and guidance to the very capable management team. It is nice to share my experiences and It is rewarding to see the team grow and deliver such important services.

Ben Schneider

I have been involved with HRCC for 15 years, initially through providing corporate sponsorship for fundraising events and then as a member of the Board, acting as Chair between 2020 and 2024.

With over 25 years’ experience as a Company Director in the Tech sector, I aim to bring my expertise in strategy, governance and digital transformation to support the charity in striving towards Helen’s vision of making good quality of life while coping with cancer available to everyone.

Andy Higgs

I have worked in the IT industry for over 14 years and before that, was a long-term retail manager so I have a broad range of experience to contribute to my trustee role, across the operations and retail areas. I am a husband and father of two and having lived in Chelmsford for many years, I really appreciate the opportunity to work with an excellent local charity.

My family has a deep connection with the charity as my wife, Kerry works in the Hatfield Peverel Centre and one of the family, who previously used the services, now volunteers. We’ve also been known to jump on bikes and get involved as we’ve all taken part in the Ride For Helen event over the years.

I am one of the newer trustees but I’m looking forward to contributing to the Charity’s purpose and goals.