MORE people fighting cancer will be given support after a special centre has grown in size.

The Wessex Cancer Trust’s Waterside Cancer Support Centre was reopened after a £57,490 extension that will enable it to reach out to more people with the disease.

Families battling the disease will now benefit from a new, separate counselling suite and therapy room. There is also a new office and a larger befriending area and kitchen to help the charity accommodate the increasing number of people using its services.

It comes after more than 12 months of tireless fundraising as part of its Building a Better Future campaign followed by six months of building works.

The extension was officially opened by Radio Solent presenter Katie Martin at a celebration attended by patients and their families as well as therapists, befrienders and volunteers which saw guests entertained by the Sing for Life choir.

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During the event Hythe Rotary president Peter Shawyer presented a cheque for £1,250 raised by the club through its recent fashion show at Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum organised by rotarian Ralph Ellis.

A spokesman from the charity said: “The demand for charity’s free services has been growing rapidly and now the centre is able to accommodate the increase in the number of people coming to the centre.

“Wessex Cancer Trust’s Waterside Cancer Support Centre is extremely grateful and delighted that it can now recommence its work in supporting anyone affected by cancer and would like to thank everyone for their kind support.”

Wessex Cancer Trust, which was founded in 1981, offers information, activities and retreats as well as both practical and emotional support to people with cancer at its five centres in Southampton, the New Forest, Winchester, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.

For more information visit wessexcancer.org.uk.