A CANCER support centre in the southeast, that has operated for the past decade out of a rented two-bedroom house, opens this week in a new state-of-the-art €2 million premises.
The Solas Centre, which offers reflexology, massage therapy and counselling to cancer sufferers and their families, has been entirely funded by the efforts of the Waterford community.
Not only has there been a massive fundraising drive across the community, but the builders, architects, interior designers, electricians, carpenters and all involved in constructing the new centre, have given their services free of charge.
“It really has been a story of people power,” said chief executive Iain Monroe. Funding for the move was raised through activities including the annual 10-mile Run For Life.
Solas was founded in 2001 by doctors in Waterford Regional Hospital to offer psychological support to people going through cancer treatment.
In addition to counselling, there are also relaxation therapies, according to Mr Monroe. “It really does help people. It won’t change the fact they have cancer but it can take a lot of the stress out of the experience, which obviously will help them respond better to treatment.”
While the centre had been able to help 250 people a year at the house in the Earlscourt area, it will now have the capacity to help 1,000.
“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved,” said Killian Stokes, head of fundraising. “There is real ownership of this centre by the people of Waterford. They have got behind this, they own it. It’s a beautiful new building, but aside from that, probably almost everyone in Waterford knows someone we have helped. The challenge now is to keep raising the money to provide the services.”
Almost all the supports at the centre are provided by volunteers. Though most clients are referred by hospital or their GP, patients can also self-refer.
See solascentre.ie
