After visiting Maggie’s London Centre, Aggie MacKenzie, star of the popular television show How Clean Is Your House?, is encouraging people to do something that ties in with the time of year – Spring.

Aggie said: “I've visited Maggie's London Centre a couple of times and I am delighted to support the very first Love Maggie's Day on Friday 26 March. If you'd like to help, how about having a spring-clean? Everyone needs a clear-out every now and again, so why not have a thorough declutter and sell any unwanted household items, clothes, toys, CDs, records or bikes either at a car boot sale or on Ebay then donate the money to Maggie's Centres. You'll have a beautifully tidy house with extra space plus you'll be helping people living with cancer get access to information, support and care at Maggie's Centres."

Maggie’s Centres provide a unique mix of practical, emotional and psychological support to anyone affected by any type of cancer, as well as their family and friends. All of their services are completely free to use, no appointment is necessary and they are delivered in buildings designed to be welcoming, friendly and homely.

Maggie’s London Centre was designed by Richard Rogers and won the prestigious Stirling Prize for architecture.

Aggie added: “When I visited Maggie's Centre London I spoke to one user who was delightfully surprised by the space, atmosphere and facilities. She said that Maggie's was a breath of fresh air at a very difficult stage in her life.”

Maggie’s CEO Laura Lee said: “Love Maggie’s Day certainly seems to be capturing the imagination of people across the UK. Our centres help tens of thousands of people and we want to help more, but we can’t do that without the support of the general public. We really want to make this day a success – by encouraging people to get involved and raise funds and awareness for Maggie’s and we also want to shout about what we do, who we help and where we have centres open and planned. It is fantastic that Aggie is encouraging people to get involved in a relatively simple way – and that is the essence of Love Maggie’s Day, you can get involved very easily by doing something you would normally do or something that you love to do.”

Laura added: “It’s an exciting time for Maggie’s Centres as this year we will be going on site in three new locations and we’re pushing ahead with plans to develop a network of centres throughout the UK.”

ENDS

For further media information on Maggie’s Centres and Love Maggie’s Day contact Murray Easton on 0141 341 5681 or 07825 312 791 or email murray.easton@maggiescentres.org

Notes to Editor

• There are currently six Maggie’s Centres across the UK – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Highlands, Fife and London. There are three Interim Centres – Oxford, South West Wales and Lanarkshire

• Centres are planned for the sites of the three interim Centres and in Cotswolds, North East, Nottingham, and a second centre in Glasgow

• Maggie’s programme of support empowers people to live with, through and beyond cancer

• Maggie’s Centres are free to visit, no appointment is necessary and they are for anyone affected by any type of cancer as well as their family and friends

• Some of the worlds leading architects have designed Maggie’s Centres, including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Lord Richard Rogers and Rem Koolhaus

• In 2009 Maggie’s Centres across the UK received over 78,000 visits

• Maggie’s model of support has been so successful that it is being taken forward in Hong Kong, Barcelona and Scandinavia

• 26th March 2009 is the very first Love Maggie’s Day – the day has been introduced to raise awareness about Maggie’s, what we do, where we are, who we help and where we plan to be in the future.

• Love Maggie’s Day will also be a focus for fundraising and encourage past, present and new supporters to get involved on the day or on the lead up to the day

• At noon on Love Maggie’s Day, there will be a Big Hug around each of the centres to highlight the support and care that goes on inside the centres

• The Beatles classic Here Comes The Sun will be played in the centres and Maggie’s will be encouraging supporters to phone their local radio station to play the song for Maggie’s as the positive message and feel to the song fit with Maggie’s philosophy ‘the smiles returning to the faces’.

• Each centre will also have an open day, encouraging supporters to visit their local centre where they will be able to see exactly what goes on and take part in taster sessions.

• It costs an average of £350,000 per year to run a Maggie’s Centre