Four years ago Emma Neville knocked on the door of a charity asking for help. She was training to be a counsellor but needed a placement to achieve her aim.
The manager of Bury Cancer Support Centre, Jan Katana, decided to give her a chance. Now, Emma, the wife of ex-United and England star, Gary, is repaying their faith in her.
She and her husband are backing an appeal by the centre to raise £20,000 to mark its 20th anniversary, and Emma now works every week for the charity as a volunteer.
Emma told the Manchester Evening News: "In 2019 I was training to be a counsellor but needed to do 100 hours with clients. I had one placement but needed another. I knocked on their door and asked for one. I had a chat with Jan about a little room. She called me back that next day and said 'we'll give it a go'.
"From that I was able to qualify as a counsellor and now offer my services as a volunteer every Wednesday at the centre. It is incredible that they have been going for 20 years without any government funding - just relying on donations. It is a family-like environment, there is such a lovely vibe. Everyone supports each other.
"I feel honoured to be able to help, and see about three clients each time I go. To know, in a difficult time, you can go there and get a cup of tea, talk, and receive therapies is so invaluable and cancer can happen to any of us - but their door is always open. I know that they have even called people at midnight.
"That they have reached 20 years is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff. They serve many people beyond Bury, all over the northwest. I have had clients from as far away as Lytham. To knock at the door and have someone to hold your hand is amazing. Because I of my attachment to the centre I hope to make a difference - they are a lifeline."
Emma and Gary visited the centre in Bolton Road to launch the new appeal this weekend. Gary said: "This organisation has been delivering a service for 20 years without any funding from central or local government which is unbelievable - they're living on a knife edge every single day, every single year for 20 years to make sure they provide the support to people who have cancer or are impacted by cancer and they continue to fight every single day to provide the care.
"I lived in Bury for 22 years, everywhere I look it reminds me of my childhood. I used to play football on the barracks playing fields, my mum used to play rounders across the road from here, so I know every single street, every nook and cranny of this place it's a special place.
"It's my life growing up. It's looked after me . The people of Bury looked after me. They're great people. They're honest with great integrity and this centre is very much an important part of the community. You think of the achievements of the people who work here to come back every single day for 20 years consistently, reliable to the people they support. I'm really proud of the people who work in this organisation and the people of Bury as well.
"There is a just giving page just been launched to raise £20k to celebrate the 20 years, It's a big community effort to make this organisation work and it's how communities work best. It's essential places like these survive and thrive.
"It deserves to celebrate 20 years. They're underrated qualities reliability, consistency and longevity and this centre has continued to deliver (them) every single day for those 20 years and there have been challenging times. Just to fight every single day for that funding that they need through partners, other organisations and individuals, it's unbelievable it takes a lot of hard work and graft and people from Bury aren't too shy of that they love working hard and giving to other people.
"It's making a massive difference. The NHS is stretched at this moment in time, it can't cope not through any fault of the staff themselves but they are stressed and stretched like you wouldn't believe and they need to refer to organisations like this to be able to deliver the support that's needed to people who have cancer or are impacted by cancer.
Lynne Marland, founder of the centre said: "The idea was conceived by myself and a colleague - both lifelong nurses working in the NHS and we felt there were gaps in support, and we felt we could fill them. It takes a team of disciplines to provide holistic care.
"We started off in a church hall in a small way. We knew where on the cancer journey most people struggle - with diagnosis, with the end of treatment and recovery when they feel isolated and alone, and also with end of life care and bereavement.
"When we set up the centre we didn't know how it would be received. We completely overtook the church hall and outstayed our welcome. A local businessman bought this building for us and we pay him rent.
"We get referrals from health professionals GPs, Macmillan, the Christie, Bury Hospice, Bolton Hospice. We offer counselling, reiki, a gentle form of tai chi, walking, art and a supper club. I often think 'where would that person have gone today if they hadn't come here?"
To make a donation to the centre visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/BCSCcelebrating20years
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