The hug is a sign of love and unity and people are making chains today at Maggie’s Centres in London, Dundee and Oxford to hug the buildings. On the actual day itself, Maggie’s supporters will turn out at each Maggie’s location to “hug” their local Centre at noon.

See STV's coverage of the hug on our YouTube channel.

Maggie's are delighted to have some fantastic companies supporting Love Maggie's Day. These include Cabbages & Roses who are donating a percentage of the price of a beautiful top to Maggie's which will be for sale on their website and in selected Jigsaw stores from March; the award-winning Travelwrap Company are also donating a percentage of the price of a specially designed cashmere Maggie's Travelwrap, and designer Rob Ryan, who has created a stunning greeting card for sale to support Love Maggie’s Day.

World-renowned architect Richard Rogers, whose practice Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners recently won the Stirling Prize for the design of Maggie’s London, will be joining in the giant hug with his wife Ruth Rogers MBE, cofounder of the River Café, and broadcaster Janet Ellis, Patron of Maggie’s London. With Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee and many of our supporters, they are all calling on Londoners and people across the UK to join them in this new national fundraising effort.

Laura Lee, Maggie’s Chief Executive said: “Love Maggie’s Day takes place on March 26th and will be celebrated in every region across the UK where Maggie’s has a presence. We are asking people to do something they love, or something in honour of someone they love who has cancer, to raise money for Love Maggie’s Day. For some people that could be something sporty and adventurous, for others a coffee morning, a dress down day at work – anything goes. The aim is to create a community of people right across Britain who are collectively celebrating Maggie’s to reflect what we do in our Centres everyday – bringing people together and giving them hope and strength.”

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has donated the £20,000 that it received for winning the Stirling Prize towards the Love Maggie’s Day fundraising efforts. Richard Rogers said: “Maggie was a very close friend, so designing Maggie’s London centre was a very personal project for the practice. The centre is located close to our office, so we are able to see how her vision is improving the lives of people with cancer and their families. Maggie was an extraordinary woman and I hope many people will join us in supporting Love Maggie’s Day.”

Ruth Rogers MBE and her cofounder of the River Café Rose Gray MBE have been long time supporters of Maggie’s and have decided to get the restaurant involved in helping fundraise. Ruth and Rose were honoured in the New Year’s honours. Ruth Rogers said: “We have chosen Maggie’s as the charity to benefit from our Winter set lunch offer at the restaurant. Rose and I started the River Café because of our love and passion for food, so cooking is our ideal way to support Love Maggie’s Day.”

Maggie’s London Patron, Janet Ellis, who will be hosting a cooking class at the Centre on the day. Janet Ellis said: “I love being Patron for Maggie's London Centre. I lost my mum, close family members, and my very dear friend Caron Keating, to cancer. Over the last few years I have enjoyed helping Maggie's by reading at the Maggie's Christmas Service, taking part in the London Night Hike and by helping to raise awareness for the cause on the TV and Radio. Maggie's Centres give out a lot of love, care, hope and support to people living with cancer and Love Maggie's Day is a perfect day to give some love back.” You can see a video of Janet discussing Love Maggie's Day here.

Bernie Byrnes, Maggie’s London Centre Head, said: “Maggie’s London brings great solace and hope to the people of London and their families who are facing the devastating consequences of cancer. It is important for Maggie’s as an organisation to highlight what we do, who we help, and how important it is to raise money for our Centres. Love Maggie’s Day is the perfect opportunity to do that.

“A wonderful aspect which I have found while working at Maggie’s London is that the local community have a strong feeling of ownership for their Maggie’s Centre – many hold a strong sense of pride for our beautiful little building which brings hope to so many. The inaugural Love Maggie’s Day will provide a great opportunity for you to celebrate your local Maggie’s London and for us to thank you in return.

“We will be throwing open our doors to the public, inviting all in to see our stunning Centre and hear about all that we do. Pop along, have a cup of tea and witness firsthand the warmth, positivity and hopefulness that the Centre brings to your community. The kettle will be on all day and feel free to join in with the Centre hug at noon!”

Maggie’s varied programme of support for people with cancer, their friends and families, relies solely on public funding. Maggie’s London Centre received 20,000 visits in 2009. It costs an average of £350,000 per annum to run a Maggie’s Centre.

For further information on Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and Love Maggie’s Day, including ideas on how you can get involved visit www.maggiescentres.org/lovemaggiesday or call 0300-123-1801.

ENDS
For further information on the photocall at Maggie’s London contact Anna Marriott on 0141-341-5675 or 07825-362-097 or email Anna.Marriott@maggiescentres.org

For further information on the photocall at Maggie’s Dundee contact Murray Easton on 0141-341-5681 or 07825 312791 or email Murray.Easton@maggiescentres.org

For further information on plans for Love Maggie’s Day across the UK contact Tricia Crosbie on 0141-341-5678 or email Tricia.Crosbie@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, Richard Rogers and Rem Koolhaus

• In 2009 Maggie’s Centres across the UK were visited by 78,863 people affected by cancer

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

• 26 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.