Maggie's Merseyside at Clatterbridge launched!
Posted 5th June 2014
New partnership brings additional support to people with cancer across Cheshire & Merseyside
Maggie’s, the charity which provides practical, emotional and social support for people with cancer and their family and friends, today held a celebration to mark the opening of its new interim Centre, built in the grounds of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
Maggie’s Merseyside at Clatterbridge will open its doors for previews on Monday 9th June with the full programme of support launching on Monday 23rd June from 9.00am.
The event was attended by Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee and Andrew Cannell, CEO of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, alongside two well known Maggie’s supporters; Liverpool born retail and design guru George Davies and internationally renowned photographer Mary McCartney.
Local internet TV channel Bay TV attended the lauch. You can view their coverage here
The interim Centre, which has been designed by architects Carmody Groarke, has been developed by Maggie’s in partnership with The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to enhance the cancer care and support already on offer at the hospital.
Maggie’s Merseyside at Clatterbridge marks a further step towards enhanced cancer care in Merseyside, Cheshire and the surrounding areas. As The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre proposes to expand its services into central Liverpool, Maggie’s creative, interim solution has been designed to advance alongside the hospital’s future development plans to bring further support to people with cancer and their family and friends across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Visitors to the Centre will be able to access the huge range of support that Maggie’s offer, including psychological support, benefits advice, nutrition workshops, relaxation and stress management, art therapy, tai chi and yoga.
Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee comments: “I am delighted that Maggie’s Merseyside at Clatterbridge will soon be offering a much needed programme of support to people with cancer and their family and friends across Merseyside and beyond.
“To watch a Centre come into being is an incredible journey, one I have been privileged to share with every Maggie’s Centre built so far, but nothing compares to seeing the Centre filled with people benefitting from the support on offer.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone who made the opening of our Centre possible; the team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre who found us the perfect spot within their grounds, our architects Carmody Groarke who have created such an imaginative Centre and to George Davies and Mary McCartney for their support and for taking time out of their busy schedules to make the opening such a success. I’d also like to thank the Big Lottery Fund, Monument Trust, Sir Robert McAlpine and Travis Perkins. Their generous donations of both time and money have helped to bring vital cancer support to the area.”
Andrew Cannell, Chief Executive of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, added: “It’s been really exciting to be involved in such an innovative project. The architectural design of the Centre has exceeded all our expectations. The team have created a visually stunning addition to our hospital and patients now have immediate and easy access to the support services Maggie’s offers, which enhance our mission to deliver the most compassionate cancer care possible to our patients.”
Retail and design guru, George Davies attended today’s launch to officially open the Centre. George, who was born in Crosby, Liverpool, was diagnosed and treated with a brain tumour in 2002. He became a supporter of Maggie’s in 2013 and donated towards the new Merseyside Centre:
“Over the past 15 years, The George Davies Charitable Trust has funded essential research that can aid the prevention and cures of both Vascular disease and Colorectal cancer. I have visited several Maggie’s Centres including Cheltenham, West London and three of the Centres in Scotland and have seen first hand the amazing after-care support they provide to people with cancer and their relatives. I feel extremely proud to support the excellent work Maggie’s is doing and feel honoured to be opening their new Centre at The Clatterbridge so close to my home town of Liverpool today.”
Built in the grounds of specialist NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are warm and welcoming places, with qualified professionals on hand to offer an evidence-based programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.
To find out more about Maggie’s Merseyside at Clatterbridge, the programme of support provided, opening hours or to plan your visit www.maggiescentres.org/merseyside
