To mark the end of our two year charity partnership we were pleased to be invited to the Maggie’s centre in Cheltenham to celebrate raising £22,830.
We had heard so much about the centre and how it differs from the clinical meeting places in hospitals but hadn’t found a suitable opportunity to visit and then before we knew it, the two years of supporting them came to an end. So, when Anna Mason, Fundraising Manager, suggested we meet at the centre to present them with the money raised, we jumped at the chance.
Our first impression on entering the Maggies’ centre on College Baths Road was one of calm and welcoming. Being greeted by an open plan kitchen diner, with a large country cottage style kitchen table, really gave the feeling of familiarity and warmth. The restored Victorian building has been extended to the back and the side and, although the extension is a modern design, it blends beautifully with the Grade II listed building and is a bright, colourful and clean place to meet.
We were warmly welcomed by Anna, along with Ela, Centre Fundraising Officer, and Chun Kong, Chair of Trustees for Maggie’s fundraising board, with mugs of tea and coffee, and we chatted fondly about our partnership together.
When we work with a charity we would usually fundraise towards a particular object, or item to benefit the charity, but with the centre relying on donations to provide the best cancer care, emotional support and financial advice for its visitors, we are pleased to give them the money to contribute to cover the costs of running the centre. However, as accountants we do like something tangible so when Anna mentioned that they could have as many as 200 visits in just one day, we were pleased to crunch the numbers and calculate that our fundraising has the potential of providing support for 2300 people who walk through the Maggie’s front door. Our support is about more than the money though, as Anna and Chun explained after thanking us for the social media coverage, which helps to raise awareness of the centre, locally and nationally, to many who haven’t come into contact with Maggie’s before, whether they have needed their service or not but may do in the future.
It always pulls on the heartstrings to change charities but it’s never goodbye, as we will continue to follow Maggie’s Cheltenham on social media and join in some of the many fun activities they have planned, having seen firsthand what a marvellous place this is and what it means to its visitors.
