Bet you thought Drylaw’s meadow planting would be cancelled yesterday? Oh ye of little faith – they’re made of tougher stuff up Drylaw way! The Neighbourhood Centre’s gardening group was joined by colleagues from Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh and together they braved the weather to start work on the paddy field and ornamental lake new meadow at the rear of the Centre!
Inside, meanwhile, altogether more sensible people from the Margarot Forrest Care Management team and clients enjoyed a nice warm cup of coffee and raised some money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
North Edinburgh’s Womens International Group are delighted with the success of last week’s Health Day – the first of it’s kind organised by the womens’ group based at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Over forty women of all ages took part in a full day of events and activities in Royston Wardieburn – and while they may not all have gone home a lot healthier, they definitely went home happier!
From registration and refreshments at 10am it was a packed programme – Jane Jones gave a talk about ‘What Affects Our Health?’, there was Zumba and aerobics in the sports hall, pamper sessions and gentle exercise; all before lunch time!
A short presentation by local women got the afternoon activities underway, and this was followed by talk on Breast Awareness by Lynda Luke of the Breast Screening Service. Julie Smith gave a presentation on North Edinburgh Time Bank and Roberta Blaikie gave a brief contribution about North Edinburgh Credit Union. The final hour of the day was dedicated to social activities and fundraising for McMillan Cancer Trust in the cafe community room, with a nearly new stall and raffle.
Women’s International Group (WIG) said: ‘We would like to thank the following organisations for their support : Community Learning and Development, Royston Wardieburn Centre Management Committee, Pilton Health Project, North Edinburgh Arts, Telford College students, the Breast Screening Service, McMillan Cancer Trust, North Edinburgh Time Bank, North Edinburgh Credit Union and Stepping Stones. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals who have given up their time or who have contributed to the raffle or nearly new stall and the local businesses who have made donations.’
Thanks to Community Learning and Development worker Lynne McCabe for the following Health Day pictures:
Two Leith sheltered housing complexes are taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ initiative this week. The Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) developments at St Nicholas Court on Ferry Road and Hermitage Court on Academy Park will host events for their residents as well as anyone who wants to drop by.
Hermitage Court will hold a light lunch with sandwiches and cakes and raffle tomorrow (Wednesday September 26) from 12pm to 2pm, and St Nicholas Court is hosting a ‘soup and sweet party’ on Friday (Sept 28) from 12pm to 2pm with a raffle and home baking.
Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator for PoLHA who manages St Nicholas Court, said: “As Autumn has well and truly hit us, we hope this is a good opportunity for people to pop along to our developments and get a warming cup of tea or soup and to enjoy a chat while raising some money for this important cause.”
Hermitage Court will be taking donations and St Nicholas Court will charge £3 for people to join in the fun. Last year, the developments raised £500 for Macmillan and are hopeful for another successful fundraising drive.
Equal Exchange women farmersMacmillan in Edinburgh are delighted to be supported by Equal Exchange, Scotland’s oldest and largest Fairtrade Coffee Co-op. The companies Edinburgh based café partners , including a number of Edinburgh’s Community Cafes, will take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event to raise funds on 28 September, helping to reach the national £11 million target.
Heather Baird said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity and Equal Exchange are delighted to help raise funds from Fairtrade Coffee Mornings across Scotland this September. Cancer affects women worldwide and has touched many of the lives of the farmers we work with. “
All the women who we source our Coffee Grown By Women from are paid a fair price and extra women’s premium for their coffee. This year one of the farmer co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua spent their premium on cervical screening for its women members. Norma GaedaPaiva was one of the woman farmers who set up this project and on her recent trip to the UK said “We want to give value and visibility to the important work that women farmers do and that has been traditionally ignored” Selling her coffee direct to Equal Exchange ensures cancer care like this exists in her community.
Macmillan’s Fundraising Manager, Jayne Forbes, added: “We are very grateful to Equal Exchange for pledging such significant support to us through participation in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. Every penny raised will help fund more services for people affected by cancer in Edinburgh. Their involvement means there will be enough practical, medical, financial and emotional support to help to change the lives of everyone affected by cancer for the better.
“The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a really fun event that is really easy to take part in, especially as you can tailor it to suit yourself. Look out for the green coffee grown by women farmer’s stickers in cafes and shops across Scotland to show your support. If you were unable to hold it on September 28 just pick another day, if you’re not keen on coffee and would rather have cocktails or even herbal tea then that’s fine as well. All that matters is that you take part. So put a smile on your mug and help Macmillan reach more people affected by cancer in your area.”
To register to host a coffee morning visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 070 1315 or to join Equal Exchange’s pledge to support more women farmers in Fairtrade visit www.equalexchange.co.uk
COMEDIAN and Catchphrase presenter Roy Walker has teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support to encourage Scots to help raise more than £10m by having a coffee. The charity hopes people across the country will take part in its 22nd World’s Biggest Coffee Morning next month by arranging their own coffee mornings. Macmillan hopes to raise £10.7m across the UK, around £1m of the target sum being collected in Scotland.
A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity. Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.
Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.
Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”
A team of local men are set to complete a 150 mile cycling challenge this weekend to raise £5000 for charity. Michael Pratt, who lives in Cramond, and seven of his friends aim to complete the ambitious challenge in just 15 hours for Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenge starts this morning in the Cairngorms , and will take them through Rothiemurchus and Perthshire before finishing in Aberfoyle tomorrow.
Michael, a married father of two, has previously walked 54 miles with friends in the 2010 Caledonia Challenge and took part in the Rob Roy Challenge last year. However, the challenge this time round has greater personal significance as he has been closely affected by cancer. His mother, Kate Pratt, 67, who currently has secondary cancer, has influenced Michael’s decision to raise funds for Macmillan due to the support they provide at Edinburgh’s Western General.
Michael, who is a Project Manager, said: “When someone close to you tells you they have cancer, you feel helpless. Something I feel I can do is support a charity that provides the help people affected by cancer need.”
Oaklands School’s fantastic festive show ‘A Magical Christmas Dream ‘ has brought some Christmas cheer to Macmillan Cancer Support. Money raised through admission and the sale of refreshments was donated to the cancer charity and Macmillan Fundraising Manager Jayne Forbes called in at the school on Ferry Road this morning to pick up a cheque for £317.
Oaklands Head Teacher Maureen Mathieson explained: “The show was a huge success – the school hall was packed and it was great to see so many people coming along to support our event. We had talked about which charity we would like to donate to and our staff chose Macmillan Cancer Support. Visitors to our show were very generous so we are really pleased with the total we are able to give Macmillan Cancer Support”.
Macmillan’s Jayne Forbes enjoyed a school assembly where senior kids performing their own version of an Eminem rap, first performed at the Christmas show. She told the children: “We are really grateful for your support – we couldn’t do our work without your help. Thank you so much”.
