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Our Story
The story of how MACS actually began.
Quite a remarkable story – one woman, one small newspaper and one coffee morning at her home.
MACS (Mojacar Area Cancer Support) started in a very small and personal way through its founder Elaine Brown. What has today become one of the best known cancer charities in the eastern Almeria Province began simply because she realised people with cancer were often facing treatment alone.
Elaine Brown was diagnosed with cancer whilst living in Spain in 2007. During treatment she recognised that many people in the area, especially expatriates, struggled with navigating the health system, the language barrier and the emotional isolation. There were good hospitals, but little community support for people with cancer who were facing many challenges that left them, their families and loved ones feeling overwhelmed.
In 2007, after completing chemotherapy Elaine placed a small notice in a local newspaper and invited anyone affected by cancer to come to her house for coffee and a chat. She did not plan to start a charity, her aim was simply to create a safe place where people could talk openly about cancer.
Initially a handful of people turned up at her home but within months, the informal gathering expanded and they started to organise practical help such as driving patients to chemotherapy and fundraising for prosthetics and wigs. At that point Elaine realised that the group needed a name and structure.It was in 2008 that MACS was formally established and the mission was very simple - ‘Help people affected by cancer with practical support, emotional support and community care’.Today MACS supports people across much of Almeria province, including towns stretching from the coast to inland areas such as Velez Rubio. The charity has supported hundreds of patients and their families and is entirely community funded. MACS fills the gap by acting as a bridge between hospitals and the community. Most of the funds are raised through the five retail shops in Mojacar, Turre, Las Buganvillas, Albox and Huercal Overa.Sadly Elaine Brown herself suffered a recurrence of cancer in 2013, requiring months in hospital and a bone-marrow transplant in Malaga. She later lost her fight with cancer in 2018 and her husband David Brown stepped into the leadership role acting as President and public representative.During Elaine Brown´s lifetime, much of the organisation´s energy came from her personal leadership and contacts. After her death MACS went through a period of adjustment and has continued to evolve and adapt, but continues to follow Elaine’s philosophy.In recognition of Dave’s work with MACS and the cancer community in Spain, Dave received a British Empire Medal in the 2024 New Year Honours.