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Longtime Inverness cancer support center closing this month

For the last 14 years, cancer patients and their loved ones have gone to The Wellness Place in Inverness for support, therapy and resources, all free, to help them through their journey.

The center, which has been funded entirely by donations, is closing its stately doors at the end of September. Kathy Scortino, clinical director and acting executive director, said it just became too difficult to find the money.

On Saturday, the center will host a final open house to give everyone who has been affected by the center an opportunity to say goodbye.

“We're deeply saddened by the closing but we also need to honor the legacy of this place,” Scortino said.

“The legacy is in the thousands of people living with cancer who have received love and kindness and compassion and support within these walls.”

The open house is from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Wellness Center office, 1619 Colonial Pkwy. A short interfaith ceremony at 3:30 p.m. will be led by the Rev. Scot Giles, who volunteered his services at the center for 12 years.

The founders of the center, Linda Murphy and Myrna Porter, will be at the event, as well as Vince and Pat Foglia of Barrington, who donated the building that has housed all of the center's operations.

The center will remain open through the end of the month, which means activities like group counseling, yoga and art therapy will go on as the process of moving out begins.

Scortino and her husband found the Wellness Center when they moved to the area in 2001. Her husband had prostate cancer, and a few years after he died she began counseling patients in one-on-one and group sessions.

“Those of us who work here really feel like we have had the best job in the world,” Scortino said. “People have trusted us with their deepest feelings and strongest concerns and that was been a real gift that has been given to us.”

Scortino said the staff is working to make sure all of their current patients are directed to other free services in the area.

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