Home donated by Moncton family to become centre for people with cancer

When Theresa Quimby was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, she knew her recovery would have to extend beyond just medical treatments.

But she found access to support for nutrition, exercise and mental health hard to find, at least not without a lot of hard work.

"I knew I needed these programs but I was spending hundreds and hundreds of hours searching the internet, you know, looking for sources, and you don't know what kind of programs you're getting," said Quimby.

It's her experience as a cancer survivor which makes her so excited that a cancer support centre is coming to Moncton, just steps awayfrom the Moncton Hospital.

"It just it makes makes makes my heart full," said Quimby.

Bannon House, a previously vacant home on MacBeath Avenue, was recently donated to the Friends of the Moncton Hospital Foundation by Moncton's Bannon family.

The foundation will partner with Wellspring, a charity which offers programs and services to people diagnosed with cancer, to open acancer support centre.

The home will be renovated and expanded at an expected price tag of $1 million,with an eye to opening next spring.

Jacqueline Bloom, the president of the foundation, said the centre will feature nutrition, exercise and meditation programs and will be staffed by volunteers who have experience with cancer, either as survivors or as caregivers of cancer patients.

"It was amazing, what an opportunity to be able to have a place for people to come, in a family-like home setting, where they can share their experience with others living with cancer," said Bloom.

Information Morning - Moncton10:36A Moncton residence will soon become a cancer support centre for families

Jacqueline Bloom is interim CEO and president of Friends of the Moncton Hospital and Theresa Quimby is a cancer survivor.

Quimby, who said her health is good, except for some lingering brain fog and fatigue, said while family and friends are important in cancer recovery, having experts and people who have lived through a cancer diagnosis as part of a recovery team is also important.

"Your family is there to love you and support you, but they're not trained, and they do not have the skills to be able to help you through this journey. And you don't want to worry them," said Quimby.

She's not sure exactly what role she will have in the new centre, but she is excited to participate and help out.

"I know this is where my heart is," said Quimby.

She said she'll do "whatever I can doto make someone else's journey less difficult,and support them, and see them through their journey to become a cancer survivor."