The partnership will drive forward fundraising for Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal, which aims to raise £3million to bring a Maggie’s Centre to Aberdeen. Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal is jointly run by the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation – a charity set up in memory of Colin’s mother who died of cancer – and Maggie’s Centres.

Colin Montgomerie met John Clark’s Business Development Director, Chris Clark, today, to find out about the fundraising activities that the family run motor trade group have lined up to raise thousands for the Appeal.

John Clark Motor Group dealerships in Fife, Edinburgh and Dundee will also be raising funds for their local Maggie’s Centres. Charity champions from each of these dealerships attended the launch, taking the chance to meet the man who led the European Ryder Cup Team to victory in 2010.

Colin Montgomerie said: “It is great to be here today to launch what will be a major partnership for our Appeal to bring a Maggie’s Centre to Aberdeen. The response from individuals, community groups and corporations, since launching Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal last June, has been humbling. I have met with John Clark Group’s owners and charity champions today and their passion and commitment for the Appeal is going to be a great help in driving forward our fundraising in 2011.”

The John Clark Motor Group represents well known brands such as Audi, BMW, BMW Motorcycles, Land Rover, MINI, SEAT, Skoda, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Vans.

John Clark’s Business Development Director, Chris Clark, said: “We are honoured that Colin could join us today to launch this partnership between Maggie’s Centres and The John Clark Motor Group. The work that Colin Montgomerie is doing through his Foundation is admirable and I am glad that our dealerships in Aberdeen will be supporting Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal to bring a Maggie’s Centre to Aberdeen. We have a great link to Maggie’s Centres as our dealerships across Scotland are in locations that mirror where current Maggie’s Centres exist and our staff, therefore, already know of the great value that a Maggie’s Centre can bring to a community.

Colin’s launch of the partnership has set us off on a great start and I’m sure all will be inspired to follow his lead.”

Maggie’s Centres Corporate Partnership Manager, Gemma McDonald, said: “Maggie’s Centres offer people the space, the time, the skills and the support to understand and manage their experience of cancer. All of our services are free-of-charge, and the funds raised from The John Clark Motor Group’s dealerships in Edinburgh, Fife and Dundee will greatly help towards the running costs of our Centres in these regions. It is also fantastic that The John Clark Motor Groups’s dealerships in Aberdeen are helping raise funds towards Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal. Thank you to Colin for taking the time to launch this partnership and to John Clark Group for recognising how vital a local Maggie’s Centre is to a region. I will be working hard with The John Clark Motor Group to ensure this year’s fundraising endeavours are as enjoyable as they are fruitful.”

...ENDS...

For more information please contact:
Tricia Crosbie – Maggie’s T: 07769 145260 E: tricia.crosbie@maggiescentres.org
Lucinda Rivers – EMF T: 07789 434664 E: lucinda@elizabethmontgomerie.org

Notes to Editors:

John Clark
John Clark’s Chief Executive started the business 35 years ago with a single sportscars dealership, specialising in the sale of used Lotus and Reliant Scimitar sports cars. Today, the Group has 14 businesses representing 8 franchises including Audi, BMW, Landrover, MINI, Seat, Skoda, VW and VW Commercial Vehicles. These businesses are located across the East coast of Scotland in Aberdeen, Dundee, and Fife & Edinburgh.

Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal/Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation
Colin Montgomerie established the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation in memory of his mother, who died of cancer. Colin recognised the gap in emotional and practical support on offer to his family during this time and set out to establish a legacy in his mother’s name, which would address this need. The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation found a natural partner with Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and together they launched Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal in June 2010, with the aim of raising £3million to build a Maggie’s Centre in Aberdeen. Furthermore, the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation and Maggie’s are working together to raise the funds needed to build a Maggie’s Centre in Lanarkshire.

Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres
Maggie’s welcomes those at all points of their cancer journey, as well as friends and family members of those facing a cancer diagnosis. In complement to the excellent treatment on offer through the NHS, Maggie’s evidence based programme of support helps people to navigate through the emotional, psychological and practical complexities of the disease. Led by cancer professionals, Maggie’s Centres empower people to live the best life possible with, through and beyond cancer.