BURY Cancer Support Centre will throw open the doors of its new base to the public tomorrow.

An open day at the centre’s new home at the former Abbeyfield House, in Bolton Road, will be staged on Tuesday, between noon and 7.30pm.

The event marks the completion of an eight-week refurbishment, during which staff continued with home visits and telephone support to patients and carers.

Manager Jan Katana said: “This is a drop-in open day and the idea is for people to come in and see us.”

The centre will officially re-open as normal for three days a week, starting from Monday, September 8, although there are plans to extend its opening hours.

Bury Cancer Support Centre, launched 11 years ago, had previously been based at St James Avenue.

The move to a bigger home was made possible after an anonymous businessman purchased Abbeyfield House and rented the building back to the support centre under a 10-year tenancy agreement.

Throughout the past two months, volunteers and staff, with the support of a number of local businesses, have brought the premises up to scratch in readiness for tomorrow’s open day.

Mrs Katana said: “We’ve carried out a total refurbishment and some interior building work. We’ve had the electrics done and a new heating system put in.

“There has also been pipework, a new roof in the conservatory as well as the removal of asbestos.”

A number of local businesses rallied round to provide vital help and support. “Donations in terms of manpower and actual physical donations of equipment, fixtures and fittings have been in excess of £50,000,” added Mrs Katana.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support and the generosity of local businesses who have helped us. We would have been unable to achieve such success without their support.”

The centre has been operating every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

But it is proposed to open on a Thursday evening within the next couple of months, with an ultimate goal of opening every Friday too.

Mrs Katana added: “The fact that the new centre is much larger means we can increase and improve the equipment we had previously.

“And the environment is much more conducive to the kind of things that we do.

“It means we will be able to see more patients.”

  • For more details about the open day call 0161 764 6609 or 07899 990260.