Maggie's Oldham marks cancer care milestone

The Maggie's Centre in Oldham has marked 5 years of supporting people with cancer.

The Centre - in the grounds of the Royal Oldham Hospital - was opened in June 2017 by principal donor and founder of The Stoller Charitable Trust, Sir Norman Stoller.

Since opening, the Centre has hosted over 40,000 visits from people with cancer and their loved ones.

Trish Morgan, the Centre Head, said the team were delighted to be marking five years of support.

"We help people take back control when cancer turns their life upside down.  Our expert team focus on the things that really make a difference to people with cancer and their friends and family.   Issues like  help with stress and depression, managing side-effects of treatment, family support, helping with money worries and bereavement support."

Maggie's is funded by voluntary donations, and the range of professional staff include psychologists, cancer support specialists and benefits advisors and is funded by voluntary donations.

All the services are free, and users don't need an appointment or a referral - just pop in.

The first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996. Maggie's now has 24 centres in the UK and a growing international network.

Founder Maggie Keswick Jencks used her own experience of having cancer to create a new type of cancer care.
 
When Maggie was 47, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and five years later, in May 1993, she was told that it had returned and was given three months to live. After hearing this, Maggie and her husband Charles were moved to a windowless corridor where they were left to process the news. While sitting in the corridor they discussed the need for somewhere ‘better’ for people with cancer to go, outside of but nearby to the hospital.

Maggie joined an advanced chemotherapy trial and lived for another 18 months. During that time, she worked closely with her medical team, which included oncology nurse, Laura Lee, now Maggie’s Chief Executive, to develop a new approach to cancer care.

The first Maggie's opened in Edinburgh in 1996, and there is now a network of centres across the UK and some abroad.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary, Centre Head Trish Morgan gave special thanks to the people of Oldham. "We want to extend a massive thank you to you, our local community.  Thanks to your support we’re able to be here for people when they need us most.  Thanks for all you do for Maggie’s and here’s to the next five years.”

To find out more about Maggie’s Oldham please visit the centre on the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital, or get in touch 0161 989 0550 and oldham@maggies.org or visit the website here.

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