Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre at the Western General is about to undergo a refurbishment after 14 years of providing practical, emotional and psychological support to people living with cancer. The centre will close its doors on Monday 26 July and reopen on Monday 2 August.

The centre will have its roof repaired, flooring repaired and replaced, new skirting boards, fresh coats of paint and new doors along with several other small improvements.

Andrew Anderson, Centre Head for Maggie’s Edinburgh said: "All of our centres are designed to high specifications so that they are built to last, but after 14 years and well over 100,000 visits, including over 18,000 alone in 2009, the time has come to give our centre some love and attention to look forward to the next 14 years."

Andrew added: "It is unfortunate that we will have to close the centre during the refurbishment. We do offer online support via our website and if people need to speak to someone they can also find phone numbers for our other centres on our website."

Maggie’s Edinburgh opened at the Western General in 1996, the brainchild of Maggie Keswick Jencks and her husband Charles, designed to help people live with, through and beyond cancer.

Due to the success of the Edinburgh centre, a second centre was built in Glasgow, followed by centres in Dundee, Highlands, Fife and London. There are now plans in place to have 20 centres open or under construction by the time the charity reaches its 20th birthday in 2016.

The first centre remains special to all connected with the charity and to the tens of thousands of people from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas that have received help from Maggie’s over the years.

Marion Taylor, Community Fundraiser for Maggie’s Edinburgh said: "The best thing about working for Maggie’s in Edinburgh is the support that our staff and this building give to people living with cancer. We make a difference, sometimes small, sometimes huge. It is nice to see the centre getting some support and care after all the people that it has helped through the years."

"It costs £350,000 a year to run Maggie’s in Edinburgh and we rely completely on donations, grants and fundraising to run and develop our services. The refurbishment is an additional cost and if anyone is able to help contribute to the costs we would welcome their support."

One person who has benefited from Maggie's is Chris Sutherland who said: "The support provided to my family and I by Maggie's Edinburgh during and following my sister's battle with cancer was invaluable. They provided me with the help and care to get through the hardest time of my life and for that, I will be forever grateful."

To make a donation to Maggie’s in Edinburgh send a cheque payable to Maggie’s to – Marion Taylor, Maggie’s Centre, Western General, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU.