Maggie's Lanarkshire needs your help
Maggie's Lanarkshire is through to the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards 2010 and needs your vote to take it through to the final round.
Maggie’s Lanarkshire is one of only 10 projects to make it through to the semi-finals in the Best Health Project category of The National Lottery Awards. The Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
The team at the centre, which is on the grounds of Wishaw General Hospital, were delighted to learn that they had been short-listed. The Centre, which opened in April 2008, provides emotional support and practical advice to people affected by cancer across the region.
The winning project in each category will receive national recognition on a star-studded BBC 1 TV show later this year and, in addition to the Lottery funding they have already received, will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.
Local Hamilton man, Neil Armstrong, is flying the flag for Maggie’s to win the award after it was his story which helped the National Lottery to select Maggie’s as a semi-finalist. Neil, who recovered from prostate cancer 15 years ago, is a key player in leading the Prostate Cancer Support Group at the centre, with the aim of helping others deal with the treatment and recovery process. This has proven one of the most successful groups in the centre, with members travelling from as far as Carlisle for the monthly sessions. Neil said: “In the last year, the group has tripled in size, with new men and occasionally their wives attending every month. I would encourage everyone to vote for Maggie’s Lanarkshire, as everyday, they make a difference to people affected by the emotionally distressing consequences of cancer.”
Maggie’s Centre Head, Lorrie Forsyth, said: “Lottery funding has enabled us to support more people affected by cancer in Lanarkshire and give them a place to turn for help in coping with the disease. We're really hoping the public gets behind us and votes for us in The National Lottery Awards as it would be great to get national recognition for everyone involved in the project.”
Voting for the semi-finals starts at 9am on Tuesday 1 June and ends at midday on Friday 18 June. To register your vote for Maggie’s Lanarkshire call 0844 686 2509 or visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards
The three projects in each of the seven categories with the most number of votes will go through to the final round of public voting in July.
For further information please contact on Maggie’s Lanarkshire please contact Julie Burns on 01698 366948.