A WARRINGTON charity will move to its dream premises thanks to donations made by generous benefactors.

Among those who have helped the John Holt Cancer Support Foundation relocate to Palmyra Square is Charlie Mullins, who appeared in Channel 4’s hit show The Secret Millionaire in October.

Charlie, multi-millionaire boss of Pimlico Plumbing, in London, went undercover at John Holt before awarding it £20,000.

Chris Holt, who founded the charity, said: “We had no idea that we’d ever be featured on a programme like that or get such recognition, it’s been amazing.”

To keep his identity under wraps, Chris was told by the show’s researchers that Charlie had fallen into hard times because of the recession and was now hoping to volunteer with a charity.

The producers told Chris they wanted to make a documentary about people giving their time to good causes during the economic downturn and asked if Charlie could help her.

Charlie, who also gave £20,000 to Long Lane Garden Centre, visited the Volunteer Centre, on Suez Street, and selected John Holt because he had recently lost an old friend to cancer.

Chris, aged 52, added: “Charlie spent five days with us in September and then revealed his true identity. For a small charity I’d never have dreamt to be picked for this programme, it was fabulous.

“This money means we can move to our dream property in an ideal location rather that just having to make do. It would have taken us three years to raise that money ourselves.

“Charlie is so generous and lovely, he has kept in touch and will be helping us move into the new place.”

In addition both Marks and Spencer, at Gemini Retail Park, and Sainsbury’s, on Church Street, selected John Holt as their charity of the year in 2009.

The former was able to make a contribution of just under £21,000 to Chris, who added: “This support has been phenomenal as has that by members of the public in Warrington, who I’d like to say a big thank you to.

“Their support and response to the programme has been amazing and donations have meant we can buy chairlifts and cooking equipment.”

In a final stroke of luck Chris recently found out she had won an Ikea competition with a £3,000 prize of home ware, which will be used to furnish Palmyra Square.

The foundation, which aims to provide information and a support service for anyone who has been affected by cancer, has now vacated its former Fairfield Community House premises.

Along with 36 volunteers, Chris will use the new headquarters to liaise with GPs and social workers and hopes to expand the work she does there, aiming to open seven days a week.

Chris set up the foundation in October 2005 after she lost husband John, mum Betty and aunt Fran to cancer in 2001.

Last year her father Ernie and sister-in-law Teresa died of cancer within two weeks of each other.

Chris, whose daughter Penny, aged 24, volunteers with her, said: “To lose all these people was an ordeal and very sad but it strengthened my resolve to help people in a similar situation, suffering from cancer or having a friend or family member affected by it.”