Cancer survivor launches monthly support hub at The Marlowes

A local mother and cancer survivor who was left feeling ‘abandoned by the system’ during her treatment is launching a new monthly support initiative at The Marlowes Shopping Centre to ensure no one else faces cancer alone.

Sharon Goodway, 39, was diagnosed with cancer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after initially being misdiagnosed. At just 36 years old, she faced the terrifying reality of treatment whilst navigating the financial and logistical strain of travelling back and forth to London for three weeks while on sick leave.

However, Sharon says the hardest part wasn’t the physical treatment, but the complete lack of emotional signposting and professional support in her local area.

‘I wasn’t signposted to charities or organisations that could help the emotional side, no Macmillan nurse, nothing,’ explains Sharon. ‘It was realising some people do have that support given, so I felt abandoned… as if my cancer wasn’t serious enough. That was when I felt truly let down by the system.’

Determined to turn her ordeal into a ‘second chance life’, Sharon retrained as a coach and launched an online global community, the Cancer Mum Cheerleader, in February 2025 to break the taboo around discussing the disease. But it was in March this year that she realised how dire the situation remained on her own doorstep.

After logging onto the Macmillan Cancer Care Map directory to find local resources for residents, she was shocked to discover that the hospital was the only resource listed for a town of over 100,000 people.

‘It blows my mind,’ Sharon says. ‘Having cancer itself is unbelievably hard and lonely, but the aftermath… that too really needs support. Because there isn’t support locally, people go into denial, they don’t process, and so they aren’t able to really heal. I couldn’t stay silent. You want something done, then do it yourself.’

In April, Sharon took her fight to Parliament, meeting with local MP David Taylor, who agreed that cancer support for Hemel Hempstead residents was severely lacking. With his team’s backing to increase local visibility, Sharon has partnered with The Marlowes Shopping Centre to provide a safe, normal, and non-clinical space for people to gather.

Starting on Tuesday 2 June, Sharon will host a completely informal, free drop-in support session on the first Tuesday of every month from 10am to 12pm in The Marlowes Community Hub.

Unlike quiet, clinical hospital rooms that can feel intimidating, the relaxed setting at The Marlowes is designed to alleviate pressure. Visitors can stay for ten minutes or the full two hours, ask questions, or simply sit and listen without judgement.

‘The word cancer has so much fear around it, but that fear gives it power,’ says Sharon. ‘We can’t give cancer more power than it already takes. When you come to the hub, you don’t have to say a single word. What is being shared isn’t from textbooks, it’s from experience. When you have experienced cancer, you are in this club that no one ever asks to join, but it is full of the best people.’

Humphrey Mwanza, Centre Manager at The Marlowes Shopping Centre, commented: ‘We are incredibly proud to partner with Sharon to bring this vital resource to Hemel Hempstead. The Marlowes is more than just a place to shop; it is the heart of the community. Providing a safe, accessible, and familiar environment like our Community Hub for people affected by cancer is exactly what this town needs, and we encourage anyone who needs a listening ear to pop in.’

The information days are fully casual and open to anyone affected by a diagnosis, whether they are a patient, survivor, or supporting a loved one. For those unable to attend on the day, promotional boards and information regarding the group can be found displayed throughout the shopping centre.