Paxman donates £3,000 to Maggie’s in Leeds

In February, Paxman donated £3,000 to the Maggie’s Centre at St. James’ Hospital in Leeds, a hospital renowned for its cancer care in the region. As a calm and secluded oasis of peace, just outside the Bexley wing, £3,000 covers the running of the
independent centre for just a single day.

Life-changing support for cancer patients

Maggie’s is a charity that provides free expert cancer care and support in centres across the UK, online and other countries. Its centres offer specialist cancer support, psychologists and benefits advisors, a life-changing intervention for those navigating a
cancer diagnosis and their loved ones.

Each Maggie’s centre is uniquely designed by architects, but the atmosphere is the
same – a warm welcome to a positive and calm environment, without the typical clinical connotations of white-walled hospitals. Maggie’s leaves people feeling less alone and more capable to manage stress, as well as offering a supportive network to rely on

As an architectural delight, Maggie’s Yorkshire Centre in Leeds presents a relaxed and calm atmosphere, full of greenery with spaces to relax, work, read, or simply enjoy the company of others over a hot drink. Supported by eight staff and welcoming volunteers, the centre in Leeds also has an event space for activities such as their yoga class, workshops or support groups, with more private spaces for private consultations. Maggie’s centres are open to everyone affected by cancer, Monday to Friday, 9am to
5pm, and everything is free to access, relying on generous donations

From one woman’s idea to a multi-national cancer care network

Whilst the Yorkshire centre opened in November 2019, Maggie’s has been pioneering a different type of cancer care since 1996, when the first centre opened in Edinburgh. It was founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks under the idea that with the right support, nobody should lose the joy of living in fear of dying when diagnosed with cancer. She felt that her own cancer diagnosis and treatment was just as difficult for her as it was for her
family, which led her to create a type of support that makes the experience of cancer more manageable for everyone.

“Above all, what matters is not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying.”

Maggie sadly died shortly before the Edinburgh centre opened, but her vision lives on thanks to the support of her husband Charles, her medical team and the cancer nurse Laura Lee, who is now the CEO of the charity. It is a household name in Scotland, with plans for more centres around the UK and other parts of the world, to offer this incredibly valuable support during such a difficult time for those affected by cancer.

A different approach to cancer care

What makes Maggie’s so different and uniquely special lies in its approach to cancer care. They recognise the need for emotional support, practical advice, a sense of normality, and a place to meet people experiencing the same things.

All support from Maggie’s is free

• No appointment or referral is needed
• There is no time limit on the support offered to patients
• A friendly space, where reception desks are replaced with sofas and clocks are
  absent.
• While not a part of the NHS, their centres are situated beside major cancer
  hospitals, with excellent partnerships
• Centres offer psychologists, benefit advisors, help with stress and depression,
  management of side effects, and relationship and family support.
• Maggie’s holds exercise groups, yoga, nutrition advice and much more.

Maggie’s Needs Your Support

Free of charge support is only possible due to the generosity of donors. The £3,000 donation from Paxman will fund the management and upkeep of the centre for a whole day. Paxman are also donating several copies of Mom’s Magical Crown, a resource for introducing young children to scalp cooling and chemotherapy. Whilst we encourage donations from other businesses for this fantastic cause, there are other opportunities to support the work that Maggie’s charity does. There are numerous ways for individuals to donate, either through volunteering, participating in fundraising activities from the centre, or direct donation.