Our Charity

Maggies Cancer Care Centre

Maggies Cancer Care Centre, Cheltenham

For all sorts of reasons, not least because of our own personal brush with cancer, The Cross Stitch Guild has adopted Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres www.maggiescentres.org  We have raised hundreds of pounds with our silly raffles at weekends and gift tables at Stitching Days.

The aim of the charity is to have a Maggie's Centre near every Oncology Centre in the UK and they have already opened seven centres in the UK as far apart as Dundee and London. The centre pictured above is Maggie's Cotswolds which opened in October 2010.

I will let Maggie’s speak for itself

Maggie’s Centre is a place to turn to for help with any of the problems, small or large, associated with cancer. Under one roof you can access help with information, benefits advice, psychological support both individually and in groups, courses and stress reducing strategies. You don’t have to make an appointment, or be referred and everything we offer is free of charge. A Maggie’s Centre will be many things to many people. It is there for anybody to use in the way they want to. There isn’t a one size fits all recipe for how you live with cancer. Everybody needs to find their own way. The job of the professionals at Maggie’s is to listen to you, to help you find out what you want and give you the tools to help yourself.

Last year I spent some time at the centre in Cheltenham and it was simply the most relaxed, informal and friendly place. The decor inside is modern, filled with lovely muted oak and bright interesting colours. The building has been remarkably converted with the new extension blending with charm and elegance.

I did feel that My husband Bill and I would have had a much more positive experience when he was first diagnosed with cancer had the Centre been there at the time.  The fact that you can pop in and sit around the kitchen table and chat or go in to a quite room to think and perhaps talk to family members makes the Centres unique and all of this is free!