Back in Argyll
APPROVAL of plans for Rainbow Valley’s new cancer treatment centre by Loch Lomond will see the charity back in Argyll.
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A DERELICT Loch Lomond outdoor centre will see a new lease of life after councillors approved a locally-supported cancer charity’s plans for a treatment centre.
Cancer charity Rainbow Valley will transform the old Ardlui outdoor centre, at McGregor’s Landing, into a residential cancer therapy centre for patients and their families.
With plans to open in 2017, the centre will provide information, education and complementary therapies through residential and day courses, made up of conferences, seminars and small group meetings.
With an open-door policy, the charity hopes it will not only help those in the local community but cancer sufferers from all across Scotland.
West Dunbartonshire Council, which was renting the building, agreed to transfer the lease of the centre to the charity.
Angela MacVicar, founder of Rainbow Valley, said: ‘It is very poignant that it is in Argyll and extremely special as Argyll has been extremely supportive throughout the years.’
Rainbow Valley was founded in memory of Johanna MacVicar, Angela’s daughter, and was inspired by her vision for a centre dedicated to holistic and complementary therapies.
Johanna, who was born in Argyll, was 16 when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. She died in 2005 after an 11-year fight against the illness.
The centre, which has been unused for more than a year, is in need of refurbishing to fit the needs of the charity but provides an idyllic location. With £2.6 million to raise to help cover the costs, as well as the centre’s running expenses once it is open, Rainbow Valley continues to work hard raising funds.