Tag: Cold Town House

Bands 4 Hope gig set to raise funds for The House of Hope

Talented local musicians Annie and the Jays, Heads Up, Ben Lauder and Cora Manchester are joining forces for a Bands 4 Hope gig at Cold Town House on 9th May, to raise funds for Edinburgh based The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated support and wellbeing centre for people impacted by breast cancer.

Inspired by their mum Cat MacLean’s breast cancer journey, Annie (31) and George Liddle (27) – from Annie and the Jays – wanted to give back and say thank you to The House of Hope for the incredible support their mum receives and felt a live music gig was a fitting way to do this, given their family’s musical talent.

Annie and George’s dad, Gordon Liddle, was the drummer in chart topping 1970s band Bilbo Baggins and George followed in his footsteps as the drummer in Annie and the Jays, with Annie as the lead singer.

Mum of three, Cat MacLean aged 59, from Edinburgh was diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2013 and went through chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy. A keen runner, Cat kept up her training all the way through chemo and successfully ran a half marathon that year.

For the next nine years Cat largely forgot that she’d had cancer; however in 2022 she developed a slight niggle in her back, which wasn’t painful but bothered her from time to time. Following a chest X-Ray, Cat was sent for a CT scan which showed a lesion on her lung and after further examination it revealed a large lesion in her vertebral spine and was eventually given a secondary breast cancer diagnosis. 

Cat has spent the last three years undergoing treatment, but is living well and leading a fulfilled life. She can no longer work, but took up jewellery making, choir, and wild swimming, which were absolutely brilliant for her from a mental and physical health perspective.

In 2023 Cat was diagnosed with brain mets and began having regular MRI scans, targeted radiotherapy and then last year she was moved onto oral chemotherapy and is currently managing the challenging side effects of this treatment.

Cat has been using the wellbeing services at The House of Hope since it opened its doors in June 2025, which she describes as ‘a real lifeline and a fantastic space to meet like-minded people and unwind while going through treatment.’

Annie Liddle said: “My mum is a true inspiration and the support she has received from The House of Hope has been fantastic during her treatment, so we wanted to give back and say thank you. 

“Music is in our blood, so it was a natural way for us to help raise funds by collaborating with other local talent to put on a live music gig to help raise funds and awareness and celebrate my mum’s courageous journey.”

The Bands 4 Hope gig takes place on Saturday 9th May at Cold Town House and tickets are available on The House of Hope website, with all proceeds going directly to fund wellbeing services for those impacted by breast cancer.

Visit houseofhope.org.uk for further information.

Tree of Hope to boost secondary breast cancer research

Buy a bauble and help fund vital studies and support patients  

Edinburgh residents are being invited to join a joyous festive fundraising campaign to support people living with secondary breast cancer. 

Charity Make 2nds Count has launched its inspiring Tree of Hope initiative, giving people the chance to donate by buying a Christmas bauble which will not only become a gorgeous decoration for the tree but can also be a beautiful tribute to a current patient or a lost loved one.   

The aim is to raise £15,000 in a national Tree of Hope campaign to fund more new and dedicated research into secondary breast cancer, a disease that kills 1000 women a month in the UK.  

Two Christmas Trees of Hope are located in Edinburgh, in McLarens on the Corner in Morningside Road and in the Cold Town House in The Grassmarket – venues of the Signature Group hospitality collection which is supporting the fundraiser by hosting the trees and donating a percentage from a special dish served in its various locations. 

Both real and virtual baubles are available to purchase, with donors receiving their personalised decoration as a keepsake in January. Individual Baubles of Hope are £25 with corporate Baubles of Hope available for £100. 

The initiative is part of the charity’s Make Christmas Count campaign to highlight secondary breast cancer.  Also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer, it is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.  On average there are around 35,000 patients in the UK currently living with this form of cancer. 

Emma Hall, Head of Fundraising and Engagement, Make 2nds Count, says: “Every family has cherished decorations that come out every year, baubles that mean something poignant to them personally, and this is just a lovely way of sharing a bit of that special Christmas spirit with others. 

“It really is the most wonderful time of the year and we’re confident that people will embrace our message of hope this festive season by taking the opportunity to add some sparkle to our trees and to boost our research funds.” 

Siobhán Leith, Head of Sales and Marketing, Signature Group adds: “Signature Group is delighted to be supporting Make 2nds Count for the second year.

“We’re so grateful to the six venues in our group who are hosting the Trees of Hope in order to be a voice within our communities. The work that this charity does is so important and we’re proud to be able to help raise awareness and funds through this fun and meaningful initiative.” 

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming, 38, of Edinburgh, had no previous breast cancer diagnosis when she learned she had primary and secondary breast cancer (SBC) in 2017. It is in the majority of her bones and brain.  She says the value of donations cannot be underestimated. 

“Last year, the first year of our Tree of Hope campaign, we had an amazing response and outstripped our £10,000 target by several thousand pounds so we’re aiming a bit higher this year.  

“The generosity of those who contribute to our fundraising has allowed us to make several important grants to researchers and donations from our trees will fund even more new and innovative projects, maintaining our mission to give hope to patients and their families affected by SBC, particularly at this special festive time.”