YEP launches A Million for Maggie's campaign to revolutionise cancer support in Leeds

Today the Yorkshire Evening Post is launching an ambitious campaign to generate the vital funds needed to make dreams of a groundbreaking cancer support centre at Leeds St James’s Hospital a reality.

We are joining forces with the Maggie’s charity, which runs 19 extraordinary cancer centres across the UK, online and abroad, to revolutionise the way people with cancer are supported on their journey in our region.

Plans for the unique £5million Leeds-based centre, designed by architects behind the 2012 Olympic cauldron, have been approved but a fifth of the total cost is hoped to be gathered through fundraising.

The likes of Harriet Dow, who grew up in Bramhope, will benefit from the person-centred space. She is determined to see Yorkshire reap the benefits.

The 39-year-old mum-of-one is battling incurable stage four secondary breast cancer and has joined us in calling on Yorkshire to back the bid to bring Maggie’s to the White Rose.

For more information and to read Harriet’s story click the ‘campaigns’ tab at yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.

Why are we supporting Maggie’s?

People with cancer in Yorkshire deserve free support in an innovative form that they do not yet have access to.

Maggie’s is a charity that provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends. Set in warm, welcoming places, Maggie’s centres use professionally qualified staff to offer people with cancer an evidence-based programme of support including everything from psychological support and benefits advice to nutrition workshops, yoga, art therapy and stress management.

Maggie’s Yorkshire is among the latest projects in a portfolio of 19 centres at major NHS cancer hospitals in the UK, online and abroad, and is hoped to open at Leeds St James’s Hospital in 2017.

The £5million centre, designed by the acclaimed Heatherwick Studio, will feature a series of contained roof gardens and live by the principles of person-centred free support that the charity is founded upon.

The centre will compliment services already offered at the nearby Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre.

But without further support, plans for the centre face an uncertain future, which is why the YEP has launched the A Million for Maggie’s campaign in a bid to generate the £1million needed to bring vital extra support to the White Rose.

We will be running regular A Million for Maggie’s features and news stories as part of a long-running campaign in support of Maggie’s Yorkshire.

How to get involved

We are determined to raise A Million for Maggie’s – and here’s how you can help.

You could take on a personal challenge, organise bake offs, concerts, charity quizzes or other events while donating the proceeds to our appeal.

Your company could set up a corporate partnership with the appeal, donating employees’ skills or time, or matching employee fundraising.

You can make a one-off gift of £5 or £10 to Maggie’s Yorkshire by texting MYEP99 £5 or MYEP99 £10 to 70070, or by sending a cheque payable to Maggie’s centres to, c/o Ben Feely, Maggie’s Centres, The Gatehouse, 10 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6PA, with the reference: YEP A Million for Maggie’s.

For more click the ‘campaigns’ tab at yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, visit maggiescentres.org/millionformaggies or follow @maggiesyorks on Twitter or see facebook.com/maggiesyorkshire.

If you have any exciting fundraisers planned, or would like any help or support, email [email protected].