One of North & East Yorkshire’s leading charities, York Against Cancer, is planning to open a brand-new cancer support centre, at the York Community Stadium in Huntington, York this Autumn as it celebrates Its 35th year. The new ‘Leveson Centre’ will provide a wide range of holistic support services to complement clinical cancer treatments provided at York Hospital and help patients from across the region to live with and beyond cancer. York Against Cancer is launching a fund-raising campaign to support the Centre and its other services for people from across the region who are living with cancer.
Located next to York Against Cancer’s gift shop at the Community Stadium in York, the new space will provide a friendly, welcoming ‘home-from-home’ environment for patients, friends, and families to visit and access support or just to drop in for a cup of coffee and a chat. Visitors will be able to access information and advice, professional help, and a weekly and monthly timetable of activities. Services will include benefits and financial advice, ‘Look Good Feel Better’, complementary therapy, psychological support and counselling, will writing and health and wellbeing activities.
Exclusively funded through generous donations and legacies received by York Against Cancer, the charity is working closely in partnership with the York and Scarborough Hospital Trust to ensure they create a space that will positively impact the region’s level of cancer support services for years to come. The fund-raising campaign being launched by the charity will support the ongoing running costs of the new Centre as well its other services which include the Mobile Chemotherapy Unit, launched in 2017; its minibus service which takes patients from York and the surrounding areas for treatment at St James’ Hospital in Leeds; a respite home in Filey; as well as a world-leading cancer research programme at the University of York.
The Leveson Centre has thoughtfully been named after one of the charity’s founders, Steve Leveson, a retired Consultant Surgeon, who started York Against Cancer 35 years ago and who, with his wife Patricia, has supported the charity ever since. Renowned for his skills as a surgeon, researcher, educator and for his genuine compassion, he has touched the lives of thousands of people across North and East Yorkshire.
Steve Leveson commented: “This is a fantastic step forward for both York and for the wider region and will mean support for cancer patients will be hugely increased and more accessible for everyone. I am honoured that The Leveson Centre has been named after my wife Patricia and myself, and we are excited to see its launch.”
Laura Milburn, Deputy Associate Chief Operating Officer and Head of Cancer added: “Community cancer care is something we’ve been aspiring to deliver well for the patients of York and Scarborough Hospitals for a very long time and to achieve this in partnership with York Against Cancer is very exciting. We look forward to the centre opening and helping York Against Cancer to run this amazing facility.”
Julie Russell, CEO of York Against Cancer commented: ‘This is such an exciting project in York Against Cancer’s 35th year! The new Leveson Centre will really extend the support and care we are able to offer cancer patients from across York and the wider region. We want it to serve the people that need it long into the future as well as continue with our other vitally important services and research. We are asking people to get behind us to raise funds or donate and support this fantastic project and continue to build on our success for years to come. Together we can make a difference!”.”
York Against Cancer was established in 1987 and has since raised more than £20 million to make a difference to the lives of local people affected by cancer. It relies on donations, fundraising, and volunteers to enable it to invest in cancer care, research, and awareness for people affected by cancer from York, North and East Yorkshire. To get involved or donate see: www.yorkagainstcancer.org.uk
