Car boost for Maggie’s Glasgow

Maggie’s, the charity which provides free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer, is delighted to be launching a car service to assist people to use the centre, thanks to the generosity of award-winning fleet vehicle company, Fleet Alliance.

The donation will allow volunteers to offer patients a vital transport link between the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Maggie’s Glasgow, both based in the Gartnavel hospital campus.

In 2017, Maggie’s Glasgow received over 15,000 visits to the centre. However the hilly location of the centre in Gartnavel can make it difficult for people to use the centre. The gift of a car will support more people to access Maggie’s vital support and the Maggie’s team are hugely grateful for the donation made by Glasgow based Fleet Alliance.

The company has a big focus on charity fundraising and support and since 2010 has donated £145,000 to Maggie’s Centres.

Fleet Alliance’s 100-strong workforce has set a charity fundraising target for 2018 of £100,000

The centre’s new car – a Kia Picanto – will also be fully maintained and serviced for the next three years.

Fleet Alliance’s managing director Martin Brown said: “A visit to a Maggie’s Centre is always a humbling experience as we learn of the incredible support offered to patients at what is inevitably a very difficult stage in their lives.

“Our colleagues have focused on Maggie’s Centres as one of our key good causes to support over the last seven years.

“Being able to offer transport for patients to get between the hospital and the centre more easily could be vital in allowing them to regularly visit and benefit from the centre’s services.”

Kerry Craig, Centre Head at Maggie’s Glasgow said: “We are extremely grateful to Fleet Alliance for their generosity in providing Maggie’s Glasgow with this car.

“Last year Fleet Alliance donated a car to our centre in Forth Valley and that project has been hugely successful. Fleet Alliance has been a great supporter of Maggies and for the company to now gift Maggie’s Glasgow with a car is another example of the company’s generosity.

“The car will be used to transport centre visitors from the entrances of The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and Gartnavel General hospital to the centre. The location of our centre on a hill can make it challenging for people with restricted mobility or severe fatigue to get to the centre from the hospital.

“The car will make it so much easier for people to get the centre and access the vital programme of support that Maggie’s offer.

Melanie McColgan, General Manager at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said “The Beatson provides excellent cancer care and staff do everything they can to make sure patients and families get all the support they need. This is complemented by the fantastic work Maggie’s does in supporting people with cancer as well as their family and friends. This generous donation of the car will help even more of our patients people access the service and will be of great benefit to many people.”

Built in the grounds of Gartnavel hospital campus Maggie’s Glasgow is a warm and welcoming place, with qualified professionals on hand to offer an evidence-based core programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

Emotional support might involve a one-to-one or group session with a clinical psychologist, stress reduction and relaxation workshops, or art therapy and creative writing courses.

Practical support might include advice about benefits and eating well; specialist support for managing hair loss during and after treatment – courses such as ‘Getting Started’, for people who are newly diagnosed; or ‘Where Now?’ for those adjusting to life after cancer.

Social support comes from the people who work in and visit Maggie’s Centres, the supportive community around each kitchen table of people who understand what it is to be living with cancer.

Maggie’s has been providing support for people with cancer, their family and friends, across Glasgow and Clyde for 17 years, initially at the centre in the grounds the Western Infirmary and now at Gartnavel hospital campus where The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre is located.   The Centre in Gartnavel, designed by Rem Koolhaus was opened in 2011.

Maggie’s Glasgow relies on voluntary donations to support and grow its network of Centres and to develop its unique, high quality programme of support. The charity’s aim is to make the biggest difference possible to people living with cancer and their family and friends.

 To find out more about Maggie’s Glasgow and to see how the Centre supports people living with cancer across Glasgow and Clyde please visit the Centre at Gartnavel hospital campus, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YN or get in touch on 0141 357 2269 or glasgow@maggiescentres.org