A NEW support and information service for cancer sufferers and their families has been launched in Okehampton. Friends of the Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre, Exeter — FORCE — launched a support and information service at Castle Ham Lodge on June 11. The charity has run a similar service in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for the last ten years. Their latest plans are focused on making cancer support services more accessible and community based. Since 1987, FORCE has offered support to those in the area suffering with cancer, and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support the treatment of cancer sufferers attending the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The charity and its supporters raised more than £900,000 during a three-year appeal and opened a purpose-built cancer support and information centre in September 2004. Many of the services offered at the purpose built centre will be available at the weekly session in Okehampton. Support, counselling and complementary therapy appointments will need to be to be booked in advance, but information and advice will be available to anyone who drops in, including help with referrals to welfare and benefits services. As well as rooms for complementary therapies and support there will also be a communal room where people can sit and chat and have a cup of tea with a FORCE nurse or friendly volunteer. All of these services are free and available to anyone affected by cancer.  The FORCE Team will be at Castle Ham Lodge every Wednesday from 10am to 4pm from June 11 onwards. For further details or to book an appointment, please call 01392 406151 or 01392 402086.