Spire Southampton's new charity partnership

Maggie’s has 22 centres across the UK and abroad. Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, these centres provide free practical, emotional and social support to anyone with any type of cancer – and to their family and friends too. Sadly, by 2020, half of the UK population will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, so there is a vital need for these thoughtful, practical spaces.

Maggie’s is building a new centre in Southampton in 2019, Spire hope to support this new location by raising awareness of the great work they do, helping bring Maggie’s to the South.

Margaret Da Costa – “Spire Southampton is pleased to be supporting national cancer support charity, Maggie’s. We hope to support this new location by raising awareness of the great work they do, helping bring Maggie’s cancer care to the South of England. Through the partnership we will raise vital funds, awareness and help bring Maggie’s to the community. Maggie’s does incredible work providing free practical, emotional and social support to anyone with any type of cancer. We are really excited to be involved.”

Gemma McKnight, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Southampton, adds: “We are delighted and proud to have been chosen as Spire Southampton’s charity partner. Maggie’s is a charity solely reliant on donations to support and grow our network of centres. Money raised from this partnership will help us move one step closer to bringing a Maggie’s to the South and to make the biggest difference possible to people living with cancer and their family and friends.”

Cancer charity Maggie’s Southampton is encouraging friends, families and colleagues to gather around their kitchen table and fundraise on 29 March.  Hundreds of Kitchen Table Days will be held nationwide, all raising money for people with cancer. We are hosting our own to launch this partnership.

Every Maggie’s Centre follows the ideas about cancer care originally laid out by Maggie Keswick Jencks. Maggie lived with advanced cancer for two years and was determined that she should not “lose the joy of living in the fear of dying.”

In order to live more positively with cancer, Maggie believed people needed information, stress-reducing strategies, psychological support and the opportunity to meet other people in similar circumstances in a relaxed and beautiful setting. All Maggie’s Centres are individually designed by leading architects to feel like a home and all have a big kitchen table at their heart. 

New visitors to Maggie’s Centres often head first for the kitchen table.  Here they can relax with a cup of tea, perhaps join in the conversation and meet a member of Maggie’s professional staff. For all Centre visitors, Maggie’s kitchen table is a place where they can talk to people who really understand what it means to be living with cancer. 

Rachel O’Shea, Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Maggie’s Champion at Spire Southampton said: “I am delighted we are taking part in Maggie’s Kitchen Table Day which will raise vital funds for the incredibly important work that Maggie’s Southampton will be offering. When a diagnosis of cancer is given to a patient and their loved ones, the impact can be devastating. Maggie’s Southampton will provide an opportunity to access much-needed support for patients and their loved ones, living with and beyond cancer. Maggie’s Kitchen Table Day is a chance to learn more about how Maggie’s Southampton can offer this support whilst at the same time make a donation,  have a chat, and indulge yourself in something tasty too.”

Gemma McKnight, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Southampton, said: “I can’t wait to see the wonderful events that people in Hampshire, Dorset, Channel Islands, South Wiltshire and West Sussex come up with to help make Maggie’s Kitchen Table Day 2019 a success.”

Gather together around your kitchen table on Friday 29 March to raise money for people with cancer. Register now for your free pack at www.maggiescentres.org/kitchentableday