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Work starts on 'anchor' cancer support centre

Aimee Dexterand
Mousumi Bakshi,Cambridgeshire
Mousumi Bakshi/BBC Roland Sore has short grey hair and beard. He is wearing black framed glasses, a white shirt, multicoloured tie and a brown coat. He is standing on the left and is in front of a building site which has silver fencing in front of it. Mousumi Bakshi/BBC
Roland Sore received support from Maggie's Cambridge after his husband died from cancer

A man who lost his husband to cancer has described a charity as his "anchor", as work begins on a purpose-built centre for people affected by the disease.

As it celebrates 30 years operating, Maggie's announced on Thursday it had started work on its new facility at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which is expected to open in early 2028.

Roland Sore, 62, has been supported by the charity for five years after his partner Andrew was diagnosed with cancer which spread to his lungs and became incurable.

Talking about after Andrew's death, Sore said: "I was numb some days, but I was just able to chat to them and they were listening to me... and I could just be myself and I felt safe when I went there."

The campus is home to Addenbrooke's Hospital and the planned Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

Maggie's Cambridge offers free support for individuals affected by cancer, including their families and friends.

It had been operating from an interim centre close to Addenbrooke's Hospital, on Puddicombe Way, since 2012.

The charity said the new centre was funded by a gift from a private family, alongside other funders.

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC A plot of land is undergoing construction. There is a large hole where footings are being placed. Several diggers are situated across the site. Several trees surround the perimeters. Mousumi Bakshi/BBC
Work has officially started to create the new centre
Níall McLaughlin Architects Illustrative image of the proposed cancer support centre in Long Road. It is a light coloured building with lots of windows surrounded by plants both inside and outsideNíall McLaughlin Architects
The facility will replace the current interim site which has been supporting people from a converted residential building

The two-storey building would have a kitchen, counselling room, dining area, welcome area, staff room, living area and toilets on the ground floor.

Plans also include a library, counselling room, group room, winter garden, exercise room, quiet room, and a toilet on the first floor.

Sore said: "One of the most significant ways that he was helped by Maggie's was knowing that Maggie's were going to be there for me after he had gone.

"He was more worried about me than he was himself.

"After he passed, I was completely bereft and I didn't know what to do and no motivation to do anything, I couldn't make any decisions, but they were always there to gently support me.

"Maggie's has got such a good understanding of cancer... and Maggie's was just an anchor for me."

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC Lisa Punt has shoulder length grey hair and is wearing clear framed glasses and a light beige jacket. She is standing off centre to the right, and is in front of a building site which has a black and yellow construction vehicle digging mud. Mousumi Bakshi/BBC
Lisa Punt said the charity had been planning the centre "for many years"

Lisa Punt, centre heard at Maggie's in Cambridge, said the charity welcomes about 1,000 visitors a month.

She said it was hoped the new centre would double that, adding: "Having this opportunity to develop a purpose-built centre will enable us to reach further people going forward.

"I know the beautiful design, increased space and exquisite garden will enhance the experience of our centre visitors and allow us to offer even more support, care and expertise," she said.

Mousumi Bakshi/BBC Georgia Forde, on the left, and Ruth Davies, on the right, are hugging each other. Forde has ginger curly shoulder length hair and is wearing a purple T-shirt and teal coat. Davies has short blonde hair and is wearing a black coat which has a hood. Mousumi Bakshi/BBC
Georgia Forde (on the left) with her mother Ruth Davies

Ruth Davies was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025.

Her family received support from the charity, including her daughter Georgia Forde, who said: "It really allowed a space for us to communicate and understand our feelings, and for my mum to understand what she had just gone through."

As part of the development, the charity is hoping to build a winter garden.

Davies said: "I love gardening and I think the garden will be so big... and I think I will have to come and spend most of my time here."

Talking about her recovery, she said: "I am getting there slowly but surely, but it has been a tough journey."

Forde added: "I very much noticed that whilst my mum was recovering, being in her garden and getting back to nature and having that as a space for her to be able to connect back with herself, was a really important thing, so to have that here would be absolutely incredible."

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