A cancer charity has launched a new £900,000 appeal to fund vital cancer services in Glasgow.
Macmillan Cancer Support wants to raise the money to improve services in the Greater Glasgow area, with much of the money to be used to fund specialist cancer nurses.
The charity’s appeal was kick-started last night (Tuesday, May 20) with a £50,000 donation from Macmillan’s Glasgow City fundraising committee.
The money was handed over by committee member Ian Brooks. The 49-year-old management consultant, from Eaglesham, said:
'My committee are delighted to be able to give such a large donation to kick-off the new Glasgow Appeal. I know how important Macmillan’s services are because my dad died from cancer in 1986. There weren’t very many Macmillan nurses about then, and I know that if he had been able to get one it would have made a real difference to him and to my family. That has always stayed with me.
'Raising £900,000 is a big challenge, but I really hope the people of Glasgow will get behind this appeal because all of the money raised will be used to improve cancer services in the city.'
Director of Macmillan in Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said:
'This donation is a fantastic start to the appeal and we are very grateful to the Glasgow City Committee. However we still have a long way to go before we hit our target of £900,000!
'Every pound helps, and every donation or fundraising event held to benefit the appeal will ensure Macmillan can continue to improve the lives of people affected by cancer across the Greater Glasgow area.'
The £900,000 appeal will fund a range of cancer services including specialist nurses in lung cancer, skin cancer and palliative care. It will also fund grants for people with cancer who have financial problems because of their diagnosis, and educational bursaries to help cancer care professionals improve their knowledge of the illness.
Macmillan has already spent millions of pounds funding cancer services in Glasgow. Most recently the charity has spent £1millon on environmental improvement work throughout the Beatson. The money, raised from the charity’s previous £2.5million Glasgow Appeal, was used to create a relaxing and healing environment throughout the centre.
Elspeth added:
'Macmillan know the environment where someone is treated for cancer can have a profound effect on their health and well-being. We are delighted to have been involved in making the Beatson a more pleasant and relaxing place for patients to visit, and we have had some very positive feedback from those who attend the facility.'
Professor Alan Rodger, Medical Director for the Beatson, attended the launch of the new Glasgow Appeal. He added:
'Macmillan is a fantastic charity which works very well with the NHS to provide excellent cancer services. I’m sure Macmillan will raise the £900,000 it needs, as it is a charity that is valued by the people of Glasgow.
'We were very grateful for Macmillan’s £1 million contribution to the Beatson, and we know the environmental improvements have made a real difference to patients who come to the centre.'