Derby charity Hannah’s Hope opens luxury lodge ‘Respite Retreat’ for teen cancer families at Mercia Marina

The first ‘Respite Retreat’ to support teenage Cancer patients and their families living with cancer will officially open on Sunday 12 October 2025.

The luxury 3-bedroom Pinelog timber lodge at Mercia Marina is the result of 18 months of fundraising by Derby-based charity, Hannah’s Hope.

The aim is to give every teenage cancer patient, a completely free stay with their family in the new lodge at the waterside marina in Willington, Derby. Through Teenage Cancer Trust, Nationwide.

The retreat provides a peaceful, homely environment where young people undergoing treatment, and those adjusting to life beyond it, can escape hospitals, and reconnect with themselves. Whether it’s a quiet weekend away, time with others who understand, or simply space to breathe, the Hannah’s Hope Respite Retreat gives young people a chance to feel like themselves again.

The holiday and charity are both inspired by 22-year-old Hannah Roberts, who was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer, Glioblastoma, in 2022 aged just 19. Given just 14 months to live, Hannah has defied expectations with her cancer currently stable.

Her months of surgery and treatment at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, followed by ongoing treatment at the Teenage Cancer ward, inspired Hannah to give back to other teenage cancer sufferers.

Gail Iredale, Hannah’s mum explained: “We spent a long time in the teenage cancer unit at the QMC. Hannah saw other teens and their families going through what she was. Some made a great recovery, some didn’t. It was as heartbreaking as Hannah’s cancer.

Stabilised with treatment, she wanted to create a haven offering dedicated support to teenagers and young adults facing the unimaginable challenge of a cancer diagnosis.

That haven turned out to be Mercia Marina. “When I visited the Marina, I was stunned by how beautiful and tranquil it was and just knew that a stay in one of the lodges would be perfect for the families that Hannah wanted to help.”

In addition to boats, Mercia Marina is also home to luxury timber lodges which are privately owned with many rented to holidaymakers.

Gail and the small team of trustees approached Mercia Marina for help to fundraise for the Respite retreat. The Marina gave them a temporary shop in September 2024, rent free, to enable them to sell donated items to the public.

Together with numerous fundraising events by JCB, Repton School, family, friends and kind-hearted strangers, as well as grants & sponsorship from the National Lottery, Nisa, PIB insurance, Access Foundation & East Midlands Airport, the charity reached its £210,000 target in March earlier this year and placed the order with Pinelog, a Derbyshire-based timber lodge manufacturer which has built and designed all the lodges at Mercia Marina.

The three-bedroom open plan living lodge which sleeps up to six people was designed in conjunction with Pinelog with the interior being bespoke to accommodate the needs of its future guests.

This includes widened doorways and the creation of additional space in the bathroom to accommodate wheelchairs. “We purposefully didn’t have a fully accessible bathroom because Hannah was adamant that the lodge couldn’t feel like a hospital. Instead, we have created lots of space everywhere, particularly in the bathroom and en suite, should guests need help.”

Inside, many of the furnishings have been donated by local businesses and individuals, including IKEA, and a £3,000 sofa by Martin & Parker, as well as curtains by Lynne Kelly interiors

Outside, the lodge has a hot tub. “The hot tub was non-negotiable for Hannah. Being in warm water was the only thing that took away her pain from her chemotherapy treatments. We’d love to eventually incorporate an infrared sauna into the lodge – that’s next on our wish list,” explained Gail.

In addition to the infrared sauna, the lodge is in desperate need of a wheelchair accessible ramp and decking for the hot tub. “We’ve been quoted appx £9,000 for the ramp which is beyond us currently. We desperately need it thought as, until then, the lodge is not accessible for all guests.”

Annual running costs for the lodge are estimated to be £10,000. To support its upkeep, Hannah’s Hope has launched a new £1 weekly lottery, which will see the charity get a proportion of the proceeds. To subscribe to the lottery, visit www.unitylottery.co.uk/causes/hannahs-hope

“It’s been an absolute whirlwind of a journey getting to this stage,” said a delighted Gail who praised everyone for their efforts. “People have just been incredibly generous with their time and money, and I am so delighted with what we have achieved collectively. The fundraising continues not only for this lodge but hopefully for more. With eight teenagers diagnosed with cancer every single day in the UK, one Respite Retreat is not enough to provide the support that these young people and their families need.”