Kimberley launches Haven-sent campaign

KIMBERLEY Walsh has launched the Leeds Haven's fund-raising drive to raise £1.5m to buy the charity's home in the Gateway development. The appeal was launched by The Haven's celebrity ambassador, Bradford-born Kimberley, of Girls Aloud, who last week was named Personality of the Year at the Yorkshire Young Achiever Awards.

The Haven, formerly Breast Cancer Haven, is keen to secure its future in the region, ideally by buying the Gateway building it is currently based in or seeking alternative properties in the region if this is not possible. This will allow it significantly to reduce annual operating costs, ensuring that more funding is directed towards supporting visitors and expanding its services. With the additional help of fund-raisers and donors to its community fund-raising drive, The Pink Power Challenge, The Haven will be able to make its home permanent, ensuring the charity's long term future in Leeds.

The Haven in Leeds is run by programme manager, Debra Horsman, a senior breast cancer nurse specialist for 14 years in Yorkshire, and former chair of the Yorkshire Cancer Network's Breast Care Group.

Debra said: "It's vital that we ensure current visitors and those who might need to turn to The Haven in the future have the security of our on-going presence in the region. Given that we have already welcomed more than 800 women and one man to The Haven in Leeds over the past two years, we know there is a real need for our service and our visitors view it as a vital part of their recovery. Without the help of fundraisers and donors, it may not be viable to secure our position in the long term."

To help get the Yorkshire Appeal off to an even greater start, Kimberley Walsh has also been auctioned off for a private lunch with three successful bidders.

Kimberley said: "Being a Yorkshire girl myself, it was a real honour to help open The Haven two years ago. Now we are hoping to secure the presence in the long term by buying the building, offering continuity to all The Haven's visitors; present and future."