Whether you run, cycle, trek or get involved in the Penguin Parade Art Trail, there are many ways to raise funds for cancer care charity Maggie’s. Gayle Ritchie meets some top Maggie’s fundraisers…
It costs almost £1 million a year to run Maggie’s Dundee and Fife – centres which offer free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends.
That’s a staggering £2,400 a day and yet, the charity opens its doors free of charge thanks to fantastic support from big-hearted fundraisers.
You can drop in to Maggie’s centres whenever you like, whether for a cup of tea and a chat, or to take part in the packed programme of activities – everything from gardening, creative writing, walking and bereavement groups to nutrition and yoga workshops.
But if it wasn’t for its supporters and voluntary donations, Maggie’s centres would struggle to survive.
“We are constantly amazed at the generosity and creativity of our supporters,” says Annie Long, fundraising manager for Maggie’s Dundee.
“The centre costs £540,000 per year to run, all raised through the efforts of wonderful friends.
“We have 70 visitors a day, seeking emotional, practical and social support in dealing with cancer.
“Our team of psychologists, cancer support specialists, benefits advisors and fundraisers are here to help.”
Meanwhile, Maggie’s Fife costs £450,000 a year to run.
“The charity’s aim is to make the biggest difference possible to people living with cancer and their family and friends,” says centre fundraising manager Tumong Edwards.
“We can’t thank our supporters enough for taking on challenges, being brave, doing the unthinkable and pushing themselves to the limits to achieve their goals and raise funds for Maggie’s.”
Check out these inspiring stories from Courier Country Maggie’s fundraisers…
SUSAN GOURLAY’S ULTRA CHALLENGE
Fitness fanatic Susan Gourlay wasn’t going to let breast cancer stop her taking on an ultramarathon.
During a routine mammogram in 2015, doctors detected a small lump and when it started to grow rapidly, mastectomy followed by a breast reconstruction was the only choice.
As a result of her active lifestyle, Susan, 63, was so slim that surgeons struggled to find fat to create a new breast.
“They had to take it from my buttock – a bit like a bum lift,” says Susan, who lives in St Andrews.
“It worked brilliantly until fat necrosis – a bit like sepsis – set in and I started collapsing.
“I could hardly walk and had to have the wound treated every day, as well as having radiotherapy.
“It was oestrogen-driven breast cancer and while I’m now in remission, I have to take tamoxifen for 10 years.”
Susan’s dad had died of cancer and a few female relatives had also been affected by the disease.
In March last year, Susan was feeling low but initially rejected the idea of visiting her local Maggie’s centre.
“I thought it was a hospice but how wrong I was. Maggie’s became my sanctuary.
“It was such a tranquil, friendly place where I was made to feel at ease over a cup of tea and a chat.
“I spent a lot of time in the library while therapeutic touch sessions soothed me and made me realise I’d been living on a knife edge.”
A plan to tackle the Tiree Ultramarathon – a 35 mile run round the rugged Hebridean island – formed in Susan’s mind.
In January this year, Susan, a retired purser for British Airways, had lymph nodes removed but was still determined to take on the Ultra in September.
“The doctor knew I was sporty and okayed it and I truly believe exercise was the best thing for me.
“It was hard work because the weather was atrocious. There were 14 beaches and knee deep bogs to run through but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
So far Susan reckons she’s raised around £2,100 for Maggie’s and she’s training for the Rutland Marathon and the Dunoon Ultra in 2018.
DON SUTHERLAND’S EPIC CYCLE
Dunfermline-based police sergeant Don Sutherland lost his sister Fiona to pancreatic cancer in 2011 after a long illness. She was just 53.
Then in 2012, he lost his wife Valerie to cervical cancer after a short and painful battle.
“Add the loss of my mum a short while later and I was a bit of a lost soul,” says Don, 57.
Rather than “burden” others with his grief, dad-of-two Don just “got on with it”.
“I was hurting nonetheless and knew I should talk to someone but I didn’t know how,” he says.
In April 2013, Don had a knee replacement and was attending Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy for physiotherapy.
One day, he noticed a quirky looking building and a signpost pointing to the Maggie’s centre.
“I knew of Maggie’s as a place geared towards comforting those who had cancer, so it never occurred to me to give it a look,” says Don.
“I wandered in anyway, not really knowing why, or what on earth they would make of me. I didn’t have cancer so I was probably wasting their time, wasn’t I?
“They wouldn’t understand my feelings of self loathing for not doing enough for the people I loved while they were alive; the helplessness watching them suffer, the despair when they passed away – the rage – and the loneliness after they had gone. It was hard to admit to these feelings, but there they were in a nutshell.”
When Don ventured inside, still feeling he didn’t fit the “profile” of a Maggie’s user, he was glad he did.
“It turned out to be the best thing I could have done to move forward.
“Everyone welcomed me with open arms. Talking and interacting with people helped me to better understand where I was, why I felt the way I did and gave me piece of mind.
“I could forgive myself a little and learn to be grateful for the time I had with Fiona and Valerie, and appreciate what I still have.
“I’m not one for crying but I opened up and cried.
“Maggie’s became, and still is, a little haven of peace and tranquillity for me and I still pop in for a blether and a chat. It’s therapeutic.”
Don felt the need to give something back and raise awareness about Maggie’s and the good centre staff do for those who are struggling.
Being a “fit guy”, he decided to take on a physical challenge and bought a bike, even though he wasn’t a keen cyclist.
He signed up for the LEJOG challenge – cycling more than 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in nine days.
“We did 117 miles in one day – that was tough,” he says.
“I started off attacking hills and some were brutal. I couldn’t make it up this long hill and stopped.
One guy said I was going at it too hard and advised me to take it slow and steady. That worked and I stopped being so competitive with myself.”
Don also recorded a nightly video blog to keep him going.
The relief of finishing was incredible, but it took him a week to realise he’d done something special.
Discovering it cost £2,400 to run a Maggie’s Centre for one day, Don aimed to raise around £3,000 but was amazed when this figure shot up to £5,600.
Would he consider doing the challenge again? “God no! No more cycling for me!”
“However, I wanted to raise as much money as I could, as well as awareness of the good that Maggie’s do for people like me – husbands, wives and family who go through it all with loved ones suffering this insidious and indiscriminate disease.
“Maggie’s hide the work the do under a very large bushel and I think there are many people out there unaware of the help and solace they can receive by taking that first step inside their local centre.”
JANICE ALLAN’S UGANDA MISSION
Some folk shave their heads for charity but great-grandmother Janice Allan trekked through the deserts of Jordan and forests of Uganda to raise funds for Maggie’s.
Janice, 60, has been to Uganda twice, and plans to return in 2019.
“So far I’ve raised around £12,000 for Maggie’s in Kirkcaldy,” says the gran-of 11 and great-gran of one.
“I chose trekking in Uganda as I sponsor the schooling of a little girl called Constance.
“I always take aid for the people – consisting of clothes, shoes and educational items.”
During a sponsored trek in 2015, Janice slipped in the African country’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and broke her leg badly.
But trooper Janice, who runs a taxi business in Kirkcaldy with her husband, returned to Uganda last month to fundraise for Maggie’s – and for the Cottage Family Centre in Kirkcaldy, which helps vulnerable families and children.
“Once you get the bug it’s difficult to shake and when you see children drinking from muddy puddles, it makes you want to do everything you can to help.”
There’s also the fact she has friends who have used Maggie’s and her dad had cancer.
“I was nearing 60 and wanted to achieve something worthwhile,” she adds. “Also, I wanted to stop smoking and get fit.”
KEVIN BIRD’S ROOSTER RALLY
Kevin’s dad was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2012.
Both of his parents – who live in Cupar – found Maggie’s Dundee a great resource, providing practical, emotional and social support.
“It’s been a true haven, especially for mum during dad’s treatment,” says Kevin, 37.
Like many who experience Maggie’s, Kevin, who lives in Toronto, wanted to give something back and took on the Tour de Rooster 2017 – a week of gruelling cycling through Italy’s mountains with the aim of raising funds for the charity.
On day four, Kevin, who works for a global financial institution, encountered the steepest, most unforgiving stretch of road ever.
“Climbing through the forest at an impossible gradient caused me to really have to look within to keep pedalling,” he recalls.
“That sort of effort pales next to the fight my dad’s been facing – and everyone who bravely battles cancer – but in thinking of him, in thinking of those at Maggie’s on my way up the Mortirolo Pass, I found such an incredible, authentic motivation to keep going, to fight and not give up.”
The trip was a roaring success with Kevin fund-raising more than $4,200 (almost £2,500) for Maggie’s Dundee.
In September, he got a new bike and he’s tracking all the miles he rides and converting them into dollars via sponsored “continued riding”.
He’s also planning to complete the 2018 Tour de Rooster in Luxembourg.
ANNE AND MICHAEL O’BRIEN’S TREKATHON
Having lost three relatives to cancer, Anne and Michael O’Brien from Leven, Fife, took on The Great Glencoe Challenge – a 26.2 mile hike through some of Scotland’s most stunning scenery – to raise funds for Maggie’s Fife.
Not only have they completed it once – they’ve done it three times.
Anne, 46, a social work assistant at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, and Michael, 50, a painter and decorator, have raised more than £2,000 for Maggie’s and plan to take on another charity challenge in 2018.
So was the trek as gruelling as it sounds?
“In a word, yes,” says Anne. “Physically it’s very challenging but mentally it’s even harder.
“The high point is crossing the finish line knowing the boots can come off and you’ll be treated to a hog roast dinner.”
CLAIRE GALLOWAY’S CLOSE SHAVE
A year ago, one of Claire’s best friends, Sylvia Donaldson, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Sylvia began treatment and started losing her hair,” says Claire, 40, a road policing office and mum-of-two from Blairgowrie.
“I decided I’d shave mine to support her.”
In January, at Perth Police Station, a workmate’s friend shaved Claire’s hair off while Sylvia and her family, as well as Claire’s, cheered her on.
She was overwhelmed by support, raising a total of £3022.40 for Maggie’s.
Thankfully Sylvia’s treatment was a success and she was given the all clear in September.
“Although my natural colour has been revealed, my hair has grown back in!” smiles Claire. “I rock the grey now!”
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A colony of 80 colourful giant penguins is set to invade Dundee during 2018.
Designed by local artist Janice Aitken, the penguin sculptures will be decorated by various artists before hitting the streets next summer.
After their moment in the sun, they will be auctioned to raise funds to support Maggie’s vital work caring for local people affected by cancer.
There are more than two million people in the UK living with, through and beyond cancer – with 300,000 new diagnoses each year.
And until a cure for cancer is found, that figure shows no sign of abating.
If it wasn’t for its supporters and voluntary donations, Maggie’s centres would struggle to survive.
