A GROUP of church volunteers have helped to clear a previously unused area next to Chart Lodge at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood.

The lodge provides on-site accommodation for patients going through intensive radiotherapy treatment.

It will now be transformed into a quiet and peaceful garden for patients and families to use between treatments.

Jillian David, deputy general manager at the centre, said: “We try to make Chart Lodge a home from home for patients staying with us for intensive treatment.

“The area next to it is quiet and secluded and, thanks to the volunteers, we can now begin working with our partners to make it a peaceful garden area for patients to relax.

“We are so grateful for all of our volunteers. Their time really does make a difference.”

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Diana Wong, who organised the working party, said:  “Our group live in the Hillingdon area and meet regularly at a Christian Chinese church in Hammersmith.

“We wanted to give something back to our local community and put our faith into action, which is why we volunteered at the centre.

“Some of our group have had first-hand experience of the valuable work staff at the cancer centre do, so we got in touch to see how we can help.”