A MOTHER-of two who lost her husband to cancer has said a workshop set up in his memory has been a 'beautiful focus' and kept the family 'afloat'.

Sinead Feeney launched the initiative last November, just one week after her 34-year-old husband Paul passed away.

The Purbeck Workshop, held in a small, industrial unit in Wool enables people suffering from cancer and their families to come together to do some ‘craft therapy’ free of charge.

Since its launch the workshop has been going from strength to strength and has even been named Sainsbury's Wareham branch Charity of the Year.

Paul was diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome in 2012 and before passing he was determined to create somewhere in their area where cancer sufferers and their families could go and momentarily escape their worries.

Sinead, 37, said: "The first year has definitely been harder than I expected. I don't think anything can prepare you for how life is going to be after you lose someone so important and dear to you. Paul was a really hands-on dad and so just surviving day-to-day has been a real struggle for all of us. But the workshop has given us all a beautiful focus for the year to keep us afloat. I am continually surprised by the kindness and generosity of our community and in the space of the year I have met so many wonderful, caring and talented people."

Sinead added: "Our children, Nicholas and Eva, have been incredible - touched by sadness yet resilient. Nicholas started school in September and so has embarked upon a new adventure in his life. Paul would have been very proud of him in his school uniform. We still miss Daddy terribly and talk about him a lot. Nicholas and Eva have forced me to keep going, and are the reason I get up in the morning - most times much earlier than I would like.

"In the short term, we have a full programme of events for the winter season. We have a wonderful variety of handmade gifts at reasonable prices for sale at our Christmas shopping evening on Friday, December 4 where you will also get a free cup of mulled wine while you browse. Our workshop is not the place that most people expect - it's small, intimate and above all, filled with laughter. We will continue our efforts to make sure that Paul's dream continues but in a perfect world nobody would need the workshop."

To mark the first anniversary a charity race night is being held at the Black Bear pub in Wool from 8pm on Saturday, November 28 to to raise funds for Lynch Syndrome UK and the Purbeck Workshop.

A gallery opening is being held at the workshop on Sunday, November 29 from 11am.

For more information visit purbeckworkshop.org