Gráinne James, general manager of the Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre, says nights to the pub are an important part of the residential programme
Every day is different. I start work at 8am so I can have some quiet time before the centre opens at 9am.
We have two day centres, one based in London, one in Essex and a residential centre in Co Donegal. People with cancer come to us at any stage in their cancer journey.
We offer free complementary treatments such as aromatherapy, reflexology and art therapy. Aromatherapy has the healing power of touch and is very relaxing. Reflexology can help patients with nausea.
We also offer counselling to those suffering from cancer and their relatives or friends.
The treatments help to take their minds off their illness and can be very beneficial.
The residential centre is based in a beautiful part of the area, at Killaghtee House. It's a five-day residential programme.
People can stay at the centre free of charge, all we ask is that they raise €500 over a year to fund another person's visit.
We received funding to set the centre up from Eircom.
We offer group counselling on the programme which gives people an opportunity to tell their story and be heard. They're asked to begin their story two years before the cancer started.
Many issues can be raised when a person develops cancer. They can be shell-shocked after diagnosis and treatment and the issue of mortality becomes very prominent.
People often begin to re-consider their relationships or career, so the counselling gives the sufferer an opportunity to talk in a relaxed and non-judgmental environment.
We also offer art and creativity therapy and we go on walks around the area.
A nutritionist visits the centre to offer advice on healthy eating and musicians also drop by to perform for us.
There is a social side to the programme which is an important part because cancer sufferers can frequently lose confidence, so we go on nights out to the pub for some fun as well.
Helen Rollason MBE was the first female presenter on BBC's sports programme, Grandstand. She died of cancer in 1999 and gave us her name to use and left her image as a legacy for us to do great work.
For more information visit: www.helenrollason.co.uk
(In interview with Patricia Weston)