Twenty years of the FORCE Cancer Charity Centre
This autumn marks a significant milestone in the history of FORCE Cancer Charity.
The FORCE Support and Information Centre has been welcoming local people affected by cancer for 20 years.
It opened its door for the first time on September 20, 2004, followed by the official opening in February 2005 when the entire building was tied in a red ribbon and everyone who helped create the Centre was invited to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
On Friday September 27 this year, the Centre will open between 9am and 4:30pm to supporters, friends, colleagues and patients to celebrate its 20th birthday.
Since the Centre opened, it has become a focal point for cancer support in Devon and place of sanctuary for thousands of people from across the county and beyond.
The Centre was built in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s Wonford site after a successful £900,000 appeal.
In its first year, there were around 9,000 visits to the new centre, nearly double the original projection. That figure rose to more than 20,000 within a relatively short space of time.
Soaring demand for support led to an £350,000 extension in 2012 to provide larger rooms for support groups and classes.
This was followed by an outreach programme, taking support into the wider communities of Tiverton, Okehampton and Honiton as well as funding outreach chemotherapy nurses.
There have been around a quarter of a million visits to the FORCE Centre since it first opened.
It opens five days a week and is at the heart of the charity’s operation, supporting cancer patients, their families, friends and carers as well as healthcare professionals.
FORCE prides itself on creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that offers a haven from the clinical environment of the hospital.
The charity offers one-to-one counselling, complementary therapies, relaxation classes, exercise sessions, support groups, benefits advice and an extensive library, all available free of charge. The Centre is also FORCE’s administrative headquarters.
The pandemic created previously unimaginable change including considerable financial challenges for the charity but all of FORCE’s services and outreach projects have restarted with Honiton replaced by Ottery St Mary.
“Thanks to the support of our incredible fundraising community and some generous grants, we are able to face the future and celebrate the first 20 years of our Centre,” said FORCE CEO Meriel Fishwick.
Emma Ellis was initially a volunteer and is now a FORCE Oncology Support Specialist and Lead for the charity’s Support and Education Programmes.
She said: “As one of the 70 volunteers inducted all those years ago, I remember feeling the infectious excitement about the Centre opening, bringing my set of scissors to cut the ribbon, which I still have a piece off. I recall thinking how big it was and before we knew it, we were making plans for the extension as it became too small to meet the need. I feel as proud and excited today to be part of FORCE and continue to be inspired by the people I work alongside, our volunteers and the patients and families we walk alongside.”
