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Date:  11 June 2007

Chai Cancer Care launches new service for the Redbridge Jewish Community

Chai Cancer Care is branching out into Essex for the first time and will run services for the Redbridge Jewish community. The charity, which is based in north-west London, will operate from Jewish Care’s Sinclair House, where Chai counsellors and therapists will be available, initially one-day-a-week, starting on 20th June.

The launch event, held at the centre in Woodford Bridge Road on Sunday 20th May was attended by more than 100 people including potential clients, staff and volunteers. Guests included the new Redbridge Mayor, Councillor Joyce Ryan, who said it was “such a wonderful service.”

Welcoming the guests, Sinclair House manager Daniel Carmel-Brown, said: “Sadly there will be people in this community who need Chai’s services and we have worked for the past nine months in particular in order to support the service. We are very proud that we are able to work together.”

Kathryn Finlay, Chai Cancer Care’s executive director, spoke of the charity’s beginnings some 17 years ago, “founded by two special ladies, who saw a need in the Jewish community. We started with a telephone helpline and it grew and grew. We are really proud of the range of services for cancer patients and their families. The time has come for us to be in Redbridge – this is a very, very special day for Chai.”

Mrs Finlay noted the charity’s panel of medical experts from the cancer world, one of whom, Professor Albert Singer of the Whittington Hospital, addressed the audience, as did Elaine Kerr, director of services, who outlined the range of therapies that would be on offer.

Professor Singer said cancer patients needed “somewhere to turn to, human contact and the need to be educated. There is not only the anxiety of managing your cancer but how you manage the other people in your life. When you have the disease everyone in the family is involved.”

He paid tribute to Chai Cancer Care, saying: “It is unique. I don’t know of any other service that comes anywhere near it in the Jewish community.”

Afterwards co-chairman Louise Hager said: “This new service fulfils our promise of being able to reach the wider community; it has been possible as a result of our recent [fundraising] dinner. She spoke of her mother, the late Frances Winegarten, who co-founded Chai Cancer Care together with Sue Shipman, adding: “My mother would have been so proud.”

People wanting information on Chai Cancer Care services should call the helpline 0808 808 4567