A Huddersfield woman with terminal ovarian cancer has launched a heartfelt bid to boost a counselling service that ‘gave me the strength to go on.’
Jill Moorhouse wants to raise as much money as possible for the Milnsbridge-based United Churches Healing Ministry Organisation through a charity auction, to help them expand their crucial services to help more people.
Jill, 48, has been visiting the resource centre in New Street regularly since last year, to help her come to terms with her future after her consultant told her in 2012 that she only had between 18 months and three years to live.
There, she has been able to talk one-to-one to a well-matched trained counsellor about her worries and learn vital coping mechanisms.
She said: “They have helped me put things into perspective, given me the strength and stability that taught me how to overcome certain barriers in my day-to-day life, they have helped with my self belief and anxiety so I am able to control it with ease.
“Going there also gives people time to think and reflect, which helps to implement changes.
“I’m benefitting greatly from using their service and just want to raise all that I can so they are able to help even more people in the community, subsequently reducing the pressure on NHS counselling services.
“What they provide is really important as waiting lists within the NHS are very long and usually sessions are limited to only 5 or 6, which is not always enough.”
She is now looking for as many donations as possible for her ‘Auction Of Hope’, which will be held at 3pm on November 15th at the New Street UCHM building.
UCHM is a registered charity and has been offering accredited counselling services for 22 years at donation cost based on what each person can afford.
They also have sites at Huddersfield New College and The Crossroads Centre in Meltham.
Jill said: “I am looking for donations that will greatly boost my fund raising efforts for the charity and I would be hugely grateful for any tangible donations that people are able to contribute.
“The money raised will be used by the organisation in New Street to help create a safe space for our most vulnerable community members and convert a balcony area into a conference room which will support larger groups of training sessions.
“Mental health issues are rising across the country due to all sorts of issues so it’s really important that we help make their project a reality.
“No one should have to face their problems alone and they have given me support comfort and encouragement, which I’m very thankful for.
“Whatever your difficulties, dilemmas or headache, whoever you are, take my advice and get this professional support and guidance.”
Managing director of UCHM and accredited counsellor, Helga Taylor, said: “ What Jill is doing is absolutely amazing. We find it very difficult to find grants and the money raised will help us greatly and allow us to expand our service.”
Anyone who would like to make a donation to be auctioned off at the event should email Jill at uchmfundraising@gmail.com or call UCHM 01484 461098.
