Break-in anger at Dereham charity

Volunteers for a Dereham charity are devastated after a break-in at their premises left the charity with a hefty repair bill.

Nothing was taken but volunteers are angry because money raised by Dereham Cancer Care will have to be used to fix a damaged door frame and window frame.

Margaret Barrett, administrator for the charity based in Cowper Road, said: “Money that colleagues and I have worked so hard to raise will now have to be spent on repairs.

“This is money that is used for therapies and respite breaks for cancer patients and their carers, and will now have to be spent on repairing a criminal's small-minded damage spree.

“This is a real kick in the teeth for everyone who supports us and needs us.”

The attempted break-in happened overnight last Wednesday and two of the charity's volunteers found the damage on Thursday morning.

Because of the damage the centre had to shut for the morning and three therapy sessions had to be cancelled.

Mrs Barrett said: “We are just so upset about it and we were all shell-shocked. We have got no idea how much the repairs are going to cost. It is just heart-breaking. We work entirely as volunteers and we work hard to raise money.”

The charity offers friendship and holistic therapies, and acts as an information centre. It also organises outings for people with cancer and their carers and families, and has a holiday home in Hopton.

Thankfully, the charity has also had some good news. Dereham Cancer Care is soon to benefit from a £1,000 donation from Tesco, and representatives from Dereham Cancer Care will cut the ribbon on Monday when the expanding Dereham Tesco, in Kingston Road, holds a special re-launch event.

Mrs Barrett said: “It is absolutely fantastic that we are receiving that money. We hope to put the £1,000 donation towards respite care, therapies and our holiday house. It has made the attempted break-in so much worse because it is like we get the money in one hand and it gets taken out of the other.”