A STALYBRIDGE-BASED charity is helping people living with cancer get over the problems associated with securing wigs by setting up a one-stop shop.
Cancer Warriors, whose headquarters are on Melbourne Street, has established a room on its first floor with about 30 hairpieces and head coverings, that have been donated.
That can help people wanting one get one without facing a bill for hundreds of pounds – and the service is already proving popular.
“We’ve already had five people get them from here,” said Cancer Warriors’ vice-chair Lesley Hopkins.
“What we’ve set up is very important. Very nice wigs are very expensive and people’s income may have been reduced anyway.
“So it’s great that people can come here and that people have donated wigs to us. Many are donated by people who used them but don’t need them any more as their hair has grown back.
“People can come into our centre, be taken upstairs and it’s very private and basically try them on to see if there’s anything they like.”
Like any free service that relies on donations, though, the more Cancer Warriors get, the more people they can help.
Ones that are taken can be returned once users are through their ‘hair loss journey’ but all donations are welcomed.
Cancer Warriors’ service has already made a mark on service user Anne Garside, who has lived with breast cancer and gone through seven months of chemotherapy.
The 56-year-old, from Dukinfield, said: “It’s a really good thing as there are only certain places where people can get wigs and they can be a bit daunting.
“Whereas you can come here, have a chat with the ladies and have a laugh. Making trying it on happy and making you feel comfortable.
“It’s not a hospital environment, so coming to somewhere like this and chatting to different people is nice.”
• Cancer Warriors’ base, on Melbourne Street, Stalybridge, is open from 10am until 2pm on Monday to Friday.