NEW DAWN FOR PURPLE HOUSE
BRAY’S CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE TO GET KEYS TO PERMANENT HOME
OVER 30 years since its foundation at the kitchen table of Veronica O’Leary, Purple House Cancer Support Centre is set to receive the keys to its new home in the coming days.
The new centre will be located at 2 Duncairn Terrace in Bray. They expect to spend the summer on fit-out, and hope to open fully to the public in September, subject to Covid-19 advice. ‘It’s been a very long road but we have finally got there,’ said Conor O’Leary of Purple House.
‘It’s very exciting for the community and wonderful to see another healthcare facility for the people of Bray and further afield.’
The HSE has agreed to pay half of the €1.275 million cost, with the organisation also having taken out a mortgage to ad to its savings made over the past decade. The new centre will include play areas, counselling rooms, a rehabilitation gym, recreation area, therapy rooms, gardens and much more. The centre is appealing for help to provide a new heating system before winter, inviting sponsorship to furnish rooms at the new facility, and a ‘buy a brick’ campaign has been launched.
PURPLE House Cancer Support expect to get the keys to its permanent home in the coming days, after a 30-year journey.
The new premises is located at 2 Duncairn Terrace. This follows news in April that the HSE had released their half of the capital funding for the purchase of the new centre.
The full cost of the new building is €1.275 million, with Purple House having taken out a 15-year-loan to add to its savings made over the past decade. Purple House was founded 30 years ago at the kitchen table of Veronica O’Leary.
‘Our aim is to spend the summer months on the fit out with the aim of opening fully to the public in September, subject to Covid advice at the time,’ said Veronica.
The new premises will be more spacious and have more facilities than their previous rented accommodation at Aubrey Court on Parnell Road.
Purple House is seeking help from the community in a number of ways.
They need a proper heating system before winter and are appealing to any building supply stores, plumbing supply stores and plumbers to donate materials and time.
They are also asking any individual or business to help furnish the centre by sponsoring a room, with a plaque put up in that room forever more.
With a mortgage to pay on the property, and day to day services to fund, members of the public can buy a Purple Brick for €100.
The new centre will include play areas for children who are living with cancer in their families, or who are bereaved, as well as areas for counselling sessions, gardens, therapy rooms for massage and other treatments, and private rooms.
There will be a specially designed cancer rehabilitation gym and recreational area, a children’s cancer therapeutic room and much more.
Corporates and businesses interested in helping to furnish a room can contact Purple House on 01 2866966 or email info@purplehouse.ie.
Buy a purple brick or make donations at purplehouse.ie.