A CANCER support centre is fighting back after the devastating flood on New Year’s Eve rendered the building unfit for use.

Bury Cancer Support Centre in Bolton Road lost valuable furniture and clinical equipment and was deemed unsuitable for further use by staff, volunteer’s and patients.

Now five weeks after the morale shattering event, the centre has received the welcoming news that insurers, loss adjustor's and health and safety specialists have authorised an immediate strip out and disposal.

Dennis Taylor, the trustee co-ordinating the centre project team, has expressed everybody’s relief and said that there is extreme optimism that the refitting and refurbishment work will soon be underway.

Mr Taylor said: “The centre’s critical care and support to patients will once again be fully operational, from their home base.

“I would like to praise the resilience of manager Jan Katana and her team of clinical specialists who have worked round the clock since the New Year in an effort to restore normal services.

“Not only have the team pulled together in setting up a superb temporary service to our patients from day one but the organisations and people of Bury have responded with heart-rending generosity.

“To them all, we offer our warmest thanks at this sad time in the centre’s history.”

Jan Katana, no stranger to crises of this kind, was quick to implement a plan of action to cope with the problem.

A reshuffling of staff rotas enabled them to take up a charitable offer of support from Revd. Kathy Selby at nearby Bolton Road Methodist Church who offered them the use of their facilities in the week.

Patients unable to leave their homes received in house visits from the centre’s clinical teams anxious to ensure business as usual wherever possible.

With insurers and technical staff working on the Bolton Road site to assess its future, other residents of the area have also responded with acts of human kindness.

Bury Cancer Support Centre in Bolton Road damaged by flooding on New Year's Eve

Jan Katana said: “People have walked into Bolton Road off the street with financial donations.

“Many have not wanted personal acknowledgement and just wanted to do their bit for the salvage operation.”

After being marooned in Western Australia when the drama unfolded on New Year’s Eve, centre chairman Jeff Green was quick to express his personal gratitude to everyone concerned with the rescue and restoration programme.

“It was soul destroying to receive dally bulletins over the last month from the team knowing that I was helpless to offer tangible support,” he said.

“It was however heart-warming to know that our team and the generous people of Bury had responded in such a timely and amazing fashion.”

Whilst it is difficult to predict how many months it will be before Bury Cancer Support Centre is fully back on its feet future fundraising events are still being planned.

Bury Golf Club are hosting a charity golf day and Manchester’s Midland Hotel is donating Mr Cooper’s House and Garden restaurant

On June 9 Bury Golf Club are hosting a Charity Golf Day for the centre with numerous prizes available.

Manchester’s Midland Hotel is donating a grand raffle prize of pre-concert dinner for two in their Mr Cooper’s restaurant followed by seats at the Take That concert in the city.

Traumatic though the last few weeks may have been, Bury Cancer Support Centre is very much alive and kicking.

A Golden Giving page currently stands at over £5,000.