Helen Rollason Cancer Charity

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity
Founded 1999
Founder Helen Rollason MBE & Professor Neville Davidson
Type Charity
Registration no. 1052861
Focus cancer patients
Location
Origins cancer care
Area served
South-East England
Product Cancer support centres and a researsch programme
Method counselling, reflexology, aromatherapy, manual lymphatic drainage,
Mission To help find a cure for cancer and help make life for people living with cancer more bearable
Website www.helenrollason.org.uk
Formerly called
 Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity

The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity is a cancer charity in the United Kingdom which funds cancer support centres and research into the disease. It was founded in 1999 and is the legacy of Helen Rollason MBE, who died of cancer aged 43. Her vision was to provide support for cancer patients' emotional well-being as well as treating them medically.

Cancer support

The charity operates a network of three cancer support centres in the south east England. The centres offer a range of complementary therapies to cancer patients in an environment of peace and tranquility, including reflexology, aromatherapy, Bach flower remedies, plus counselling, manual lymphatic drainage and support groups. The centres are for patients with all types of cancer at all stages: whether newly diagnosed or longer term, throughout treatment and after treatment is completed.

One of the charity's cancer support centres is based in Chelmsford, Essex, one in Sawbridgeworth, Herts and one in Edmonton, North Middlesex, London.[1]

Cancer research laboratory

The Helen Rollason Research Laboratory was opened in April 2003. It is located within and managed in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, Essex.[2]

Scientists at the laboratory are undertaking research into cancer, using tumour specimens and blood samples from cancer patients. In November 2009, Dr France Docquier and fellow scientists Dr Sushma Rai and Dr Christina Greenwood identified two different kinds of CTCF, a protein involved in breast cancer and in insulator activity.[3]

The charity's aim is to gain a greater understanding of cancer from these research projects, potentially resulting in better treatment options for patients, better prognosis and higher survival rates.[4]

Clinical drug trials

The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity has enabled around 2000 cancer patients to participate in clinical drug trials in the last eight years. A team of research nurses provide care for cancer patients at the two research centres: Broomfield Hospital in Essex, and North Middlesex University Hospital in London. In the last eight years the research nurses have been involved in trialling a total of 14 new agents which are now on the market and readily available.

The Helen Rollason research nurses provide cancer patients with access to treatments which may be licensed but are not yet available on the National Health Service or are awaiting NICE approval or are simply a novel new agent. There are currently 40 drug trials taking place at the two research centres in Essex and London.[5]

Shops

The charity has a network of shops run by volunteers in the Herts, Essex and London areas. They provide funding for the cancer support centres and the research programme. Its 11 shops are in Barkingside, Braintree, Burnham-on-Crouch, Chingford, Collier Row, Danbury, Ongar, Sawbridgeworth, South Woodford, Wickford and Witham[6]

References

  1. ↑ Harlow Herald (2009-11-12). "HIGH WYCH: New Cancer Support Centre Opens At Rivers Hospital". The Harlow Herald. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  2. ↑ "Open day at cancer research lab". Maldon and Burnham Standard. Maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk. 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  3. ↑ "Breast cancer breakthrough for Essex scientists". Anglia Ruskin University. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Helen Rollason Research Laboratory". Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  5. ↑ "Helen Rollason Clinical Drug Trials". Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  6. ↑ "STH WOODFORD: Charity shop volunteers honoured for £370k haul". This Is Local London. Thisislocallondon.co.uk. 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
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