Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Sweet boost for Maggie’s centres
JUDITH TONNER
Maggie’s cancer caring centres have a new fundraising initiative which really takes the biscuit – thanks to the generous support of Lanarkshire confectionery firm Tunnock’s.
They have announced the launch of the “Caramel Wafer match-funding challenge”, which will see the company match all new donations made to the Airdrie centre over the three months from October 1, up to the value of £50,000.
Now supporters of the centre, in the grounds of Monklands Hospital, are being asked to give generously online, by phone or in person to make the most of the windfall offer.
Tunnock’s are long-term supporters of Maggie’s and previously ran a similar £50,000 match-funding challenge in 2017.
Company chairman Sir Boyd Tunnock, speaking on behalf of the family, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the amazing work of Maggie’s Lanarkshire to help people live well with cancer.
“I look forward to seeing how people respond to the challenge and helping the centre continue to support people with cancer, as well as their family and friends.”
Maggie’s Lanarkshire centre head Lorrie Forsyth said: “It was at a special afternoon tea to celebrate Sir Boyd’s recent knighthood that he made the pledge to double funds to support Maggie’s – and we can’t thank him enough.
“We are very lucky that Sir Boyd has agreed to support Maggie’s with a matchfunding pledge up to £50,000 for a second time; being able to make the most of the Caramel Wafer matched giving challenge would be the best possible finale to our year.”
Fundraising manager Marion Pirrie added: “We rely entirely on voluntary donations to be able to continue to offer our unique programme of support and keep our centre open for everyone who needs it.
“This is such a generous pledge and will mean we can double every penny we receive in donations, making every gift go twice as far towards our aim of making the biggest difference possible to anyone and everyone in Lanarkshire living with cancer.”
Maggie’s provides invaluable free practical and emotional support for people living with cancer, ranging from financial advice to a wide range of groups and activity sessions.
Centre visitors will be able to donate using special envelopes available in the Airdrie centre, including at its Christmas party on December 13.
Donations can also be made by calling the centre’s fundraising team or by visiting www.maggiescentres.org/how-you-canhelp/ quoting “Caramel Wafer matched giving challenge”.
Maggie’s is also one of the good causes included in Tesco’s current “bags of help” funding round – with customers being asked to vote to decide how the bumper funding pot should be distributed.
The supermarket is marking its centenary with two special funding rounds totalling £ 100,000 being distributed in central Scotland.
Maggie’s and fellow nominated charities Penumbra and The Yard will each receive one of three bumper cheques, for £25,000, £15,000 and £10,000; with shoppers’ blue-token votes deciding how this will be distributed.
Tesco S c o t l a n d ’ s head of communications, Tony McElroy, said: “Our centenary grants aim to support organisations who are helping to make a difference across Scotland, and we’re asking our customers to vote in stores and show their support for these fantastic community causes.”