A NEW charity has been formed to help support people battling breast cancer in Worcestershire.

The charity aims to directly benefit people being treated for breast cancer at the new breast unit at 220 Newtown Road, on the site of Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

The Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven charity will raise funds to help run a support service at the new facility and purchase some non-medical items such as wigs and mastectomy bras.

The support service is being provided by the national charity the Haven.

Patients attending the unit will be able to access free emotional and physical support, one day a week, to help reduce the side effects from their breast cancer treatment.

The charity will also provide them with advice for healthier lifestyles.

The chairperson of the new charity, Fiona Charny, said: "For several years I chaired the 'Everyone Knows Somebody' charity which raised money to help build and fit out the new unit.

"We are immensely proud to have helped make the dream a reality.

"It is our hope that the energetic and committed fundraisers who backed our campaign will now get on board with the new charity."

The Haven’s chief executive officer, Pamela Healy OBE, added:"We are very excited to be part of this new unit.

"This is the first time that we have delivered our personalised support services directly from a hospital.

"Our services are directly helping people cope better with breast cancer.

"These vital services, though, rely entirely on charitable donations, so we are reaching out to the local community to ask them to raise funds to help us deliver our important work."

Your Worcester News has supported the creation of the new unit since the launch of the campaign in October 2009.

It is hoped the new unit, designed with input from patients, will welcome its first patients early in the New Year.