CARING: Volunteers Rita Boxhall and Sarah Hendley.

A UNIQUE cancer charity in Hampshire which offers support to sufferers and their families is set to expand.

The Cancer Care Society in Romsey was established three years ago to offer individual and group therapy for people affected by the disease.

Since winning a £140,000 lottery grant the organisation has been going from strength to strength with plans to extend its services.

The charity was originally set up in 1971 in Bristol as a series of self-help groups but most disbanded when new charity legislation was introduced.

The organisation has two offices in The Hundred set up by director Kim Fielder who was previously involved in the old Southampton area help group. It aims to provide one-to-one counselling for cancer victims and offers group therapy as well as aromatherapy and reflexology.

The society is eventually hoping to set up advice centres around the country based on its flagship centre in Romsey.

Head of fundraising Caroline Dewfall said the offices were currently undergoing extension work so more rooms for group advice sessions could be provided.

She said: "This is a unique service that Romsey and Southampton should be part of and not many people know about it at the moment.

"We work with people who have been bereaved as well as sufferers. It is a difficult subject and we want to make people's lives easier and help them have a better quality of life.

"We don't provide medical help, it is more emotional support and we are run totally on voluntary income. There is still a lot more scope to grow especially as more people learn about us.

"We need to raise our profile and funds so we can help those people who are feeling lonely and isolated."

More information is available by ringing 01794-830300 or 01794 830374.

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