Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Students show their support for Maggie’s
Big-hearted students from New College Lanarkshire students staged fundraisers for the changing seasons in support of Maggie’s Lanarkshire cancer caring centre.
Participants in the independent living and skills for life courses collected nearly £ 300 for the facility, located in the grounds of Monklands Hospital, through a series of events.
They baked Halloween biscuits and cakes and then moved on to making festive gift bags and wrapping paper in their volunteering and upcycling class, as well as selling the charity’s Christmas cards to students and staff.
It proved to be doubly good news for the centre, as the money raised was equalled through the Caramel Wafer match funding challenge run by centre supporter Sir Boyd Tunnock, the confectionery firm chairman.
Students presented their cheque to Maggie’s volunteer Dianne Calgie, who had inspired them with a talk about the centre’s work, and its fundraising organiser, Heather
McArthur.
Both said they were “delighted” with the amount raised, and that the Airdrie charity will have an “ongoing relationship” with the college and students on the two courses, which aim to help develop employability skills and include a community focus on practical numeracy skills and independent travel.
Heather said: “It was wonderful to meet the students in person and be presented with the cheque – and with huge smiles and lots of laughter; we look forward to working closely with many of them again.
“We can’t thank them enough; and it was clear that as well as fundraising for a great local charity, they were gaining confidence and improving numeracy skills and independence.”
College lecturer Michelle McMillan said: “The students decided they wanted to put their skills to good use for a charity that is well loved in the local community.
“They worked very hard in planning and selling the products and are very proud of the amount raised.”