We tied the knot thanks to Maggie’s
A GLASGOW couple who have tied the knot revealed their wedding would never have happened without Maggie’s.
Michelle and James Burton say the cancer support charity helped them get their relationship back on track.
“I don’t know where we would have been without Maggie’s,” said Michelle.
The new Mr and Mrs Burton took part in groundbreaking workshops aimed at helping cancer survivors deal with their closest relationships.
The evidence-based sessions, devised thanks to support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, have been developed after research revealed that two thirds – 67 per cent – of people living with cancer believe diagnosis and treatment has had an impact on their relationships.
Michelle, 51, from Rutherglen, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and the couple struggled to cope as she went through treatment.
James explained: “We’d been together for four years before Michelle was diagnosed and we went through a lot during her treatment and physical recovery.
“Michelle struggled to share her feelings, and I didn’t know what to say to her. It was a rocky patch for us.”
He added: “Michelle was already getting support from Maggie’s, so I arranged to go along to a few sessions and I felt so much better.”
The workshops help people navigate their closest relationships, reflecting on issues such as feelings of uncertainty about what the future holds; the physical and emotional challenges when someone’s body has changed due to cancer treatment; and supporting children.
Maggie’s Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Research Lead Lesley Howells said: “These workshops will make a tremendous difference to those trying to live with cancer.”