WHEN you think about the dedicated Macmillan Care Centre at Trafford General Hospital you may have a vision of something resembling a hospice.

But that is exactly the opposite to what you find when you visit the borough's own specific care centre for those affected by terminal illness.

And it is something that staff at the centre say they are trying to address to make more people aware of what they actually provide at the site in the grounds of Trafford General Hospital.

The centre - which opened more than two years ago - offers a wide range of services to anyone affected by cancer and other terminal illnesses.

But centre manager Sue McKenna says that many people have a different idea as to what they do.

She tells SUM: "We are sometimes perceived as a place for sufferers of terminal illness to come to but we offer a wide range of services.

"We do help people adjust to their illness but we are here for families and friends as well because all too often their lives are also changed when someone they love is diagnosed.

"Our aim is to make life easier for all those affected with things like counselling, aromatherapy, reflexology and even just a place for people to come and chat."

Sue says that the centre does rely a lot on word of mouth and the more people that know what goes on there, the more can take advantage of what's on offer.

She goes on: "We have 32 volunteers here who are on hand to help out and people can always drop-in whenever they feel.

"We try to keep it very informal and individualised although we do have group support sessions for specific cancer illnesses like lung, breast, bowel and prostate.

"The fact is that around 750 are diagnosed with cancer each year in Trafford and although we have seen a marked increase in those using our services, we only scratch the surface with referrals.

"Those people who do use us have provided good feedback but we want to help as many as possible to come to terms with their illness.

"The real aim is to get people talking about cancer and lessen the stigma surrounding it."

Another problem that the centre faces is the funding which is mainly down to donations from the public - although it is partially funded by the health authority.

Chris Bellis is the fundraising co-ordinator at the centre and is constantly working to raise awareness in the community and keep funds rolling in.

She tells SUM: "We are constantly promoting the centre throughout the borough and have events going on all the time to provide much-needed funds.

"We have written to local schools inviting children to design a special Christmas card to be sold at the centre.

"It is a constant job but the more people that help and the more that know about us, the more cancer sufferers we can help."

For more information about the Macmillan Car Centre or details about any of the charity events, call Chris Bellis on 746-2083.