If someone asked you what The Fountain Centre is, would you know? Some of us find out the hard way, but most local residents have no idea that they have this wonderful facility on hand when they need it most. The Fountain Centre is an independent charity (Reg No 1089086) for cancer patients, their families and carers located in the St Luke’s Cancer Centre in the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford. When a patient is diagnosed with cancer they often find themselves in a state of shock with their lives spiraling out of control, not knowing where to turn. The Fountain Centre is there for patients and their families from the initial cancer diagnosis until treatment finishes and beyond. This local independent charity provides information, psychological support and complementary therapies, in a calming and relaxed atmosphere, allowing patients to make informed choices and regain control of their future. They also have a wig bank, a lending library, and can provide information about local support groups, welfare benefits and a host of specialist cancer charities. When an adult has cancer it affects everyone. Supporting Local Families It can bring dramatic changes to family life, whilst everyone adjusts to the new ‘normal’. Sometimes children get overlooked or maybe the adults around them just don’t know what to say? It can be a bewildering and lonely experience for children. How do you begin to tell them what is going on and how can you help them cope? The Fountain Centre’s Family Support Service, offers one to one counselling for children and young people under the age of 18, as well as guidance and support for parents whose children might not want to access counselling, as well as support for teachers and other healthcare professionals. Every year the Fountain Centre helps over 2,500 newly diagnosed cancer patients and their loved ones to live with cancer. There is more information about the services they can offer and how you can help their work on their website, www.fountaincentre.org. 18 Raring2go! THE FOUNTAIN CENTRE
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