Scotmid announces new charity partnership to support cancer patients in Edinburgh

Scotmid, one of Scotland’s leading community retailers, has announced a new, year-long charity partnership with Maggie’s, an organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive support to individuals and families living with cancer.

This partnership highlights the shared commitment of both Scotmid and Maggie’s to making a meaningful difference in their communities. Over the next 12 months, Scotmid and Maggie’s staff in Edinburgh will work hand-in-hand to raise awareness, fundraise, signpost and offer tangible support to those living with cancer.

As part of this collaboration, Maggie’s volunteers will be visiting Scotmid stores across the country, engaging directly with customers to raise awareness and funds. These in-store ‘pop-up’ events will offer customers the opportunity to learn more about the resources available to them and how they can contribute to the cause.

Scotmid stores have also introduced exclusive Maggie’s-branded merchandise, including limited edition pin badges and air fresheners, making it easier than ever for customers to show their support.

Additionally, Scotmid employees are being encouraged to get involved in local fundraising activities, bringing their own creative ideas to the table to enhance community engagement.

Beyond fundraising, a key focus of this partnership will be to educate communities about the diverse support services that Maggie’s offers to those living with cancer. From emotional support to practical advice, the Maggie’s centre in Edinburgh provides a lifeline to individuals and families during some of their most challenging times.

 Anna Clarkson, Centre Co-Head, Maggie’s Edinburgh, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are delighted to be partnering with Scotmid, an organisation renowned for its dedication to Edinburgh community causes.

“Together, we aim to shine a light on the profound impact cancer has on lives and to remind those living with a diagnosis that they are not alone.

“It is wonderful to think that Scotmid stores will now help ensure people with cancer, as well as family and friends in Edinburgh, get the support they need at possibly the most difficult time of their lives.”

Karen Scott, Chief Executive at Scotmid, said: “Supporting our communities is at the heart of everything we do at Scotmid. We are excited to partner with Maggie’s to raise both awareness and vital funds for a cause that touches so many lives.

“The money we raise will help ensure that more people can access the care and support they need during such a critical time. We look forward to making a difference together.”

Scotmid has raised an impressive £3.25 million across its last ten charity partnerships, establishing itself as a leading retail fundraiser.

This significant contribution is made possible through the hard work and dedication of staff, members, and customers, who participate in numerous fundraising activities and campaigns.

Find out more about Maggie’s: https://www.maggies.org/

Stirling Castle crypto event raises £13,500 for Maggie’s

A ground-breaking gathering of crypto enthusiasts and Bitcoin Angels at Stirling Castle has raised £13,500 – and counting – for cancer charity Maggie’s. 

In addition to the £5000 donated directly from artist and organiser Trevor Jones he is also willing to match contributions up to 5 Ethereum, as more continues to come through in donations of the crypto currency. 

A fine art graduate and traditional painter, Trevor has worked at the intersection of art and technology for more than a decade, experimenting with QR code paintings and augmented reality (AR). When he invested in Bitcoin in 2017 it inspired a new creative direction, leading to his crypto-themed AR paintings and his emergence as a pioneer of non-fungible tokens (NFT) in art. 

He staged the Grand Party at the historic castle last month (July) as a celebration of art, tech innovation and community, bringing together hundreds of NFT art enthusiasts from across five continents. 

Billed as the year’s most exclusive crypto event, with an exclusive Special Edition Castle Party 2022 NFT available only at the gathering, it featured acts including magicians, drum and pipe bands, Highland warriors from Combat International, a caricaturist and musicians. 

Trevor said: “We’re over the moon that the event already raised £13,500 for Maggie’s cancer charity, a cause close to the heart of the NFT community since the passing earlier this year of the well-loved crypto artist Phillipe Fatoux aka Alotta Money. 

“The Castle Party was an unforgettable experience – even the temperamental Scottish weather was on our side with blue skies followed by a beautiful sunset.  And we’ve already begun organising Castle Party 2023!” 

Anyone who wishes to support the 2022 initiative can donate to Maggie’s  or donate through this ETH address until the end of the year. 

Mark Cooper, Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s says: “Everyone at Maggie’s is so grateful to the NFT community for their support.

“The funds raised will make a transformational difference to people with cancer and their friends and family living across Edinburgh.” 

The event was also supported by a number of sponsors: 

NFT whisky marketplace Metacask, Nova Finance digital asset investments, Tokenframe digital screens for NFT artwork, Saga cigars hand crafted in the Dominican Republic, Apollo NFT, a leading NFT consulting firm and production studio, and wilderness foragers and flavour alchemists, Buck & Birch. 

Stick it to Cancer for Maggie’s

July jolly hockey sticks fundraiser for Maggie’sstick it to cancer

What is Stick it to Cancer?

‘Stick it to Cancer’ (SITC) is a fun hockey tournament designed to raise funds for Maggie’s. SITC will offer hockey teams the opportunity to participate in a Round Robin tournament. Teams are encouraged to dress as a super heroes to unite in the fight against cancer. In addition to the festival there will be an evening celebration at the Stewart Melville Clubhouse.

When is it?

Saturday 9th July. Registration is 9.00 – 9.30am with the first fixture starting at 10.00am. The tournament will run to 5.00pm. The evening celebration will start at 7.00pm and finish at 1.00am.

Where is it?

The hockey tournament will be at Edinburgh Academy’s Hockey pitches on East Fettes Avenue. The evening celebrations will take place at the Stewart Melville Rugby Clubhouse.

Who can play?

Anyone aged 14+. Each team can have a maximum of 10 registered players. This is a mixed tournament for all abilities. Please note anyone aged below 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult for the evening celebration.

How do I get involved?

To enter a team, please download a team registration form using the link here:

http://fucancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SITC-Participants.pdf

and arrange payment of the entry fee by Friday 24th June.

Completed forms should be emailed to heather@fucancer.co.uk. The cost of entry is £200 and should be paid to at www.paypal.me/heatherfucancer Please use the Team Captain’s Name as a Reference for payment.

How much does it cost?

The cost of entry is £200 per team. Payment using Debit or Credit card can be made at www.paypal.me/heatherfucancer Please note if you use a credit card to send money, a fee of 3.4% + 20p applies. For alternative method of payment please contact Heather.

What do I get for taking part?

Each team will have a timetable of fixtures to compete in on the day of the tournament. Each player will receive a Maggie’s Wrist Band. The Team Registration also covers entry into the Stewart Melville Rugby Clubhouse on the evening of the festival where celebrations will continue.

What do I need to take part?

You are expected to provide your own equipment. We would advise to wear shin pads, gum shield and appropriate sports clothing. Please see the rules regarding goalkeeper requirements. Balls will be supplied. Don’t forget your stick!!

Why do it?

All the money raised through SITC will go to Maggie’s. Maggie’s provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends.

I have more questions, who can I speak to?

Please feel free to contact Heather at heather@fucancer.co.uk or 07762 777 439.

Gerry’s ‘joie de vivre’ impresses Maggie’s judges

 

Gerry’s designcreates a ‘calming, open and uplifting space’

Maggies architectGerry Reid, a fifth year pupil at Culloden Academy, has won Maggie’s Schools’ Architecture Competition. Gerry’s design was inspired by the shape and structure of a leaf, and judges clearly thought it was tree-mendous (sorry)! 

Maggie’s Schools’ Architecture Competition was developed by Maggie’s and The Lighthouse with the aim of introducing secondary school students to ideas around how architecture can impact health and well-being, and of giving them an insight into architecture, design and technology. The students were asked to come up with their own plan for a new Maggie’s Centre.

Competition judge Kirsty Wark, an Honorary Patron of Maggie’s said: “Students worked to the same brief as the architects who have designed real Maggie’s Centres, to design a healing space for people affected by cancer. There were some great ideas and the young people really understood the brief and what we needed from them.”

“Gerry’s design stood out: she showed an impressive grasp of the way that architecture and design can create hopeful, joyous places where people can find calm during a critical time in their lives.”

Gerry’s prize is a week’s work experience at Richard Murphy Architects, the creators of the first Maggie’s Centre which opened in Edinburgh in 1996.

Gerry was inspired by a visit to Maggie’s Highlands with her classmates where staff explained about the Maggie’s programme of support and discussed the design of the building and how it made staff and visitors feel. She said: “This has been a great experience for me as it has given me the chance to come as close as possible to working in the way that a practising architect would. The whole project has enabled me to push myself as far as possible and to work in an area of design about which I am passionate.

“From the start, I knew that my design had to be calming, safe and aesthetically strong. With this in mind, I linked the theme of nature to my design. My aim was to transport people from the clinical hospital environment into a calming, open and uplifting space.

“I am really excited about gaining experience at Richard Murphy Architects. I have never been in an architects’ practice let alone worked alongside them! I know that the insight and experience which I gain will be invaluable for my future pathway which I aim to take into the incredible world of architecture.

“I’d like to thank Maggie’s Centre, Inverness for allowing me to visit and pick their brains as to the very specific requirements of such a building!”

All the short-listed designs will be exhibited at The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, and Maggie’s will keep the students’ design sketches as inspiration for design teams working on Maggie’s Centres in the future.

Ian Elder, manager of The Lighthouse, said: “We worked with Maggie’s to develop a concept to present architecture into schools, introducing creativity, innovation and the wider idea of how this can be applied through design to buildings. The fact that schools design their submissions to the same brief as architects gives real-life experience and students get the chance to practise research and presentation skills, adding value to the current school curriculum.”

Richard Murphy, of Richard Murphy Architects, added: “Gerry’s design has fantastic joie de vivre. It makes a whole series of alcove-like places on the inside which responds directly to my thinking as to how a Maggie’s Centre might be inhabited. On the outside, the building is a fantastic agglomeration of rooms giving it both a domestic appropriateness but also a slightly fantastical and intriguing appearance. I thought the idea of basing it on a leaf plan and developing it into an attractive building showed remarkable sophistication.”