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Alex, Amy and the bank
First Minister Alex Salmond was today drumming up support for a coffee morning that's set to raise an impressive £8million for charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Mr Salmond joined Scottish tribal band Clann an Drumma and former cancer patient Amy White, 20, to urge Scots to take part in World's Biggest Coffee Morning on September 25.
People across Scotland are being urged to sign up and encouraged to give their event a Scottish theme to mark the Year of the Homecoming, which celebrates the best of Scotland’s culture and heritage.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
'Sadly one in three people in Scotland will be diagnosed with cancer which means the excellent services Macmillan offers are incredibly important to patients, their families and carers at a time when they need it most. 'The World's Biggest Coffee Morning is a fantastic event that has been running for 19-years. 'Macmillan always encourages people to put their own stamp on coffee morning and I think their idea of including a Scottish theme this year is a good one. 'The coffee morning gives people the perfect excuse to invite friends, family and colleagues round for coffee and a chat – while raising vital funds for a worthy cause.'
'Sadly one in three people in Scotland will be diagnosed with cancer which means the excellent services Macmillan offers are incredibly important to patients, their families and carers at a time when they need it most.
'The World's Biggest Coffee Morning is a fantastic event that has been running for 19-years.
'Macmillan always encourages people to put their own stamp on coffee morning and I think their idea of including a Scottish theme this year is a good one.
'The coffee morning gives people the perfect excuse to invite friends, family and colleagues round for coffee and a chat – while raising vital funds for a worthy cause.'
Alastair Reid from Clann an Drumma, one of Scotland's top tribal music bands, added:
'There can be very few people in Scotland who haven't been affected by cancer and if all we need to do to help is enjoy a coffee and a bit of shortbread then I think we should all be doing it. 'Scots will really like the idea of the Scottish theme - we know from the number of people who book us to play at their events how much Scots love anything linked to their heritage.'
'There can be very few people in Scotland who haven't been affected by cancer and if all we need to do to help is enjoy a coffee and a bit of shortbread then I think we should all be doing it.
'Scots will really like the idea of the Scottish theme - we know from the number of people who book us to play at their events how much Scots love anything linked to their heritage.'
The First Minister gave his support for the campaign at the Glasgow offices of Skills Development Scotland, which is among many businesses in Scotland where staff have already signed up to hold coffee mornings in their workplace.
Mr Salmond and the band were joined by Amy White from Paisley, who received help from Macmillan after being diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma – and given just a 20% of survival – aged just 18.
She said:
'Macmillan was fantastic when I was ill. They gave me a grant that I used to buy a laptop that meant even though I was always stuck at home or in hospital I was able to stay in touch with friends over the internet. It became a lifeline for me. 'I think having a Scottish-themed coffee morning is a really great idea and I hope loads of people take part.'
'Macmillan was fantastic when I was ill. They gave me a grant that I used to buy a laptop that meant even though I was always stuck at home or in hospital I was able to stay in touch with friends over the internet. It became a lifeline for me.
'I think having a Scottish-themed coffee morning is a really great idea and I hope loads of people take part.'
Macmillan hopes to raise £8m from the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – £800,000 in Scotland.
The money will fund Macmillan’s vital services, ranging from specialist nurses and doctors to support and advice for people who have financial problems because of their cancer
Director of Macmillan in Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said: “More people are being diagnosed with cancer each year so our services are needed now more than ever.
'We are so grateful to Mr Salmond, Clann an Drumma and Amy for agreeing to support our coffee morning. We hope people will love the idea of a Scottish-themed coffee morning and help us raise the money we need to fund our vital cancer services.'
To register to host a coffee morning or find out more visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee| or call 0845 602 1246.
First Minister Alex Salmond, Clann an Drumma and cancer survivor Amy White will be available for photographs at the offices of Skills Development Scotland, 150 Broomielaw, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, G2 8LU. The venue has a balcony that overlooks the River Clyde.
Skills Development Scotland is taking part in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning and staff members will also be available for photographs. Macmillan’s head of fundraising in Scotland, Andy Neal, will also be in attendance.
Media are invited and should be at the reception on the ground floor of the building by 3pm (Monday 31 August).
Further information is available by calling Michelle Gallacher on 0783 745 2506.
Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help.