IT STARTED as one woman's promise to her late father, now The Hummingbird Centre has become 'a lifeline' to more than 15,500 others.

Mechelle Harris has run the cancer support centre in Launton, near Bicester, since April 2014, after losing her father Ray Hurcombe to acute myeloid leukaemia in 2008.

During his treatment, Mrs Harris' father asked for what would end up being 'the biggest challenge of her life' – to create something good out of their loss as a family.

Now, a little over four years on, the charity centre – co-founded by dental surgery administrator Mrs Harris and complementary therapist Becky Fletcher – has spread its wings and almost doubled in size.

Thousands of guests are now enjoying the centre's latest addition of an activity barn after its expansion into the neighbouring building was unveiled this month.

Volunteer activities coordinator Anna Jones, who has been with the charity since the start, worked on the expansion with Mrs Harris.

She said: "The new activity barn is more than I ever imagined. It has been so nice to see the guests' faces as they walk in and their smiles spread from ear to ear."

The Hummingbird Centre was created to provide support and therapy to anyone affected by cancer, either suffering themselves or through a loved one.

Services it provides, through the help of some 50 volunteers, include massage therapy, counselling, arts and crafts, make-up and hair styling.

The new barn has allowed the team to break up the centre's activities better, creating new areas for darts and table football and leaving quieter lounge areas.

Mrs Jones added: "The activities are a massive part for our guests, and I don't think when we first started that we realised just how important it would be.

"I personally see how the crafts help our guests build confidence and encourage support for one another. It is that time out and distraction, but also working together with that mutual support which carries through to everything they are going through in their lives."

The centre prides itself on being a place for anyone affected by cancer, themselves, as a carer, partner or child.

It aims to be a space for people to come and forget for a few hours, with complementary therapies or crafts, get advice or counselling, or simply to meet new people and socialise.

One guest who has been attending for about three years is Patricia Jones, from Bicester, who went with her husband Terry after he was diagnosed with cancer.

She said: "As soon as we got through the door, we thought 'we're home'."

The pair continued to use the centre together as much as possible this year before Mr Jones passed away in August.

Mrs Jones said she has returned to the centre in the past six weeks to help rehabilitate herself, adding: "We have gained friendships, care and love.

"I am quite overawed by it all, by the greatness of people's hearts, it makes you feel very humbled. I feel I have come home to somewhere that I can still laugh and smile."

The centre was originally open just two days a week, but now opens Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.

It is also looking to host weekend activities for the public to come along and see what the centre is about, as well as help raise money for the charity using the new activities barn.

Another guest Elizabeth Granger, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January and after two operations received the all clear, said it was a difficult step to first walk through the centre doors.

But she added: "When you come in you instantly see how lovely everyone is. I personally get a lot out of seeing how people overcome their troubles here – it's almost like, 'if they can do it, so can I'.

"I lost my brother-in-law to cancer 10 years ago and if my sister had something like this it would made a lot of difference."

Mrs Jones added: "For me it is a lifeline and I couldn't manage without it."

The latest expansion coincided with the centre's celebrations after getting a Queens Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award given to volunteer groups in the country.

Last week it hosted a presentation ceremony with Oxfordshire's Lord-Lieutenant Tim Stevenson, where the team said it 'really hit home'.

Mrs Harris added: "We do feel the community of Bicester has taken us to heart and for us it is very much about being part of that community."

For more details on the charity see thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk or search on Facebook.