It may help cancer patients, but Maggie’s is for all of us, insist health chiefs
Date published: 20 July 2023
Pictured are (left to right): Councillor Nyla Ibrahim (Werneth), Trish Morgan (Centre Head, Maggie’s Cancer Centre), Muzahid Khan, Dr Musharraf Hussain (keynote speaker), Lynn Tissington (Centre Volunteer at Maggies) and Akke Rahman (The Bengali Mountaineer)
Maggie’s cancer care may be all inclusive, but for other services to be the same, members of every community must volunteer and persuade their friends and family to do the same.
That was the message guests at a special Eid celebration at the Oldham centre heard as they toured a facility which has proved to be a safe space for over 55,000 visitors.
Organised by Maggie’s, the event was attended by everyone from councillors to serial fundraisers such as The Running Man Afruz Miah BEM and the Bengali Mountaineer Akke Rahman.
And keynote speaker, mentor and life coach and former GP Dr Musharraf Hussain told the packed house that COVID highlighted how it was imperative that people from BAME backgrounds, used and cherished services that were designed for them, too.
“Generally, people from ethnic minorities are more unwell than others,” he said, “and one of the reasons for that is that we don’t use services as we should.
"Women especially seem to fear going to the doctor.
"It is up to us to tell others about services like Maggie’s, but also to do our bit, by becoming volunteers at places like these.”
Deliberately cited so that guests enjoy a roof-top view at the cancer centre, Maggie’s offers professional support for those living with cancer.
Moreover, it has been purposely built to be a “home from home” for those affected by a disease which will impact on one-in-two lives in the UK.
Centre Head Trish Morgan told guests: “We are letting people know that they are not on their own.
"And that ethos of inclusive, safe, comfortable and non-judgemental is even evident in our building, where the handrails are made of wood and the colour of the floor yellow to help those undergoing chemotherapy.”
It was the discovery of a brain tumour in a family member that first got Fundraising Board Member Muzahid Khan DL involved in helping cancer charities.
The writer and life coach said: “This fantastic facility is for all people, but while people know of it, there is a lack of awareness of what it does – as is the case with a lot of services.
"We need to join in more and spread the word.”
Guests were encouraged to donate, while Maggie’s has a couple of forthcoming fundraisers which were given a plug – namely, Maggie’s culture crawl (September 29) and Maggie’s Orange Ball (November 3).
To find out more about how you can help, please email: laura.tomlinson@maggies.org
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