Chai Cancer Care supporters attended the opening of the charity’s support centre.
More than 160 supporters of Chai Cancer Care, the Jewish community cancer support organisation, came together to be part of the official opening of Chai’s new support centre. Friends of the charity from Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds attended as the state-of-the-art, purpose-built centre in Heathlands Village was unveiled.
Louise Hager, the chair of Chai, told a capacity crowd: “The development of the support centre will serve as a hub for the whole of the North West region, allowing for even more services to reach even more people.
“This is a place where clients can come to escape the world of medical appointments and cancer treatments – where they will feel safe and supported in a calm and soothing environment and where everything is focused on their needs. Here they can be themselves with no pretense. Sharing experiences and information and even laughing with others who have that bond of understanding can be comforting and help reduce the sense of isolation that one can feel.
“Chai’s reputation for providing a highly professional service delivered from the heart now has the potential to do much more,” she continued.
“Our relationship with The Fed, our landlords, is very special. It is built on mutual respect which ensures that both organisations can retain distinct and separate identities, independence and most importantly the complete confidence of those who need our services.”
Mark Adlestone OBE, chairman of The Fed, added: “Our relationship with Chai goes back to 2008. In those days it was a three-way partnership of The Fed, Chai and Heathlands Village. Together we came up with a solution to create Chai’s first outpost outside London. We all recognised the importance of working together for the betterment of the community.”
Throughout the evening, guests were given a tour of the new Chai wing. The centre has three counselling rooms, three therapy rooms, a family counselling and group meeting room, fitness suite, therapy kitchen and a children’s play, art and music therapy room.
To find out more about Chai Cancer Care, visit Chaicancercare.org.