The Haven Welcomes 5,000 Visitor

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Effie Road centre helps women recover from breast cancer

The London Haven, which helps women to deal with with their recovery from breast cancer, has welcome the 5,000 visitor to its Effie Road centre since its opening in 2000.

The Haven, which last celebrated its 10th Anniversary with its patron, HRH The Prince of Wales at a reception at Clarence House, marked this latest achievement with a tea party for all visitors past and present.

The Haven, housed in a converted Welsh Presbyterian church in Effie Road, just off Fulham Broadway is the the only national breast cancer charity of its kind. It provides, completely free of charge, a wide range of therapies which help people deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer.

Specialist  cancer nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes for every person who comes through its doors.

According to feedback from Visitors, their oncologists and breast care nurses, Havens provide an exceptional programme of care that is an absolutely invaluable service.  Over 90% of Visitors say that the therapies they received at a Haven were essential to their recovery from breast cancer.

Celebrity supporters of Haven include Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Martin Clune, Julian Fellowes and Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, who says: " It’s wonderful that 5,000 women and men and their families have been supported through their breast cancer by The Haven. I know from the experience of a good friend how important the emotional support and complementary therapies The Haven offers at such a difficult time are.

" I have great pleasure supporting the Haven and with help from fundraisers, we can enable them to support 1000s more. "

The charity was created following the experience of founder Sara’s nanny, Wendy Ricketts, who was diagnosed with the illness. Sara was concerned by the lack of emotional support and information available to people with breast cancer.

Believing that "no-one should have to face breast cancer alone", Sara sold her art business in 1997 and put all of her energy into creating Breast Cancer Haven, now The Haven. A second Haven opened in Hereford in 2004 and a third in Leeds in 2008.

Contact the Haven on 020 7384 0099 or email info@thehaven.org.uk