The volunteers from Cookstown-based Charis Cancer Care and Friends of Charis have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
This is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.
Charis Cancer Care was established to support people who are affected by cancer, their family members and families who have been bereaved through cancer. Friends of Charis is a charity shop in Magherafelt that supports Charis.
Representatives from Charis Cancer Care and Friends of Charis attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
Charis Cancer Care is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Winners are announced each year on June 2 – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Centre Director, Imelda McGucken MBE, said she was delighted that the volunteers have been acknowledged for their contributions.
“Moving forward after treatment can feel like a huge mountain to climb, and Charis Cancer Care aims to empower more men and women to live life with confidence. This award means a lot to all our staff and volunteers in the Friends of Charis charity shop and Charis House,” she said.
Mrs McGucken said Charis can broaden the services offered to patients coping with diagnosis, detection and treatment.
“A programme has been designed to complement rather than replace orthodox cancer treatments with the aim of providing physical, psychological and emotional support through the relief of symptoms. Highly trained therapists work with the person as a whole, ensuring they benefit from advice and treatments which are free of charge to everyone at point of need. It really is a wonderful service,” she added.
Charis Cancer Care Volunteer, Jacqueline Bell, said many people have been touched by cancer and without a place like Charis to provide care and support, their journey would be so much more difficult.
“My husband has cancer and I found that I needed support. Charis provided that haven of calm. From the warm welcome as soon as you enter the centre, to the counselling and the services available, Charis really makes a difference. Choosing to become a volunteer is my way of saying thank you,” she said.
Almost 8,000 people have accessed Charis Cancer Care to date and, on average, there are 120 centre users per month.
The charity is planning an extension at Lough Fea and it’s anticipated that the new facility will provide two new treatment rooms for the delivery of complementary therapies by trained practitioners and an additional seminar room for group activities.
An independent charity, Charis does not receive government funding and relies exclusively on support from the local community and businesses to raise funds. The annual running costs for the centre are currently in the region of £350,000.
Should you wish to use the services or make a donation to Charis to support cancer patients, their families and those bereaved with cancer, please contact the centre on 028 8676 9217 and/or Director of Fundraising Veronica Morris on 028 8676 9217 or 07738 492541 or email fundraiser@chariscancercare.org. All donations go straight to the charity.