Donation is the highest single donation from an art event recorded in Edinburgh by Maggie’s in their 27 years of service
Cancer support charity, Maggie’s has confirmed that Scottish artist Trevor Jones has just awarded them the highest single donation from an art event recorded in the Edinburgh centre’s 27 years-history.
The $140,000 donation (£114,000) was raised at a charity exhibition and auction at an annual Web3 Castle Party near Paris, in tribute to digital artist and architect Philippe Fatoux, aka Alotta Money, which was organised by innovative artist and NFT pioneer Trevor Jones.
Maggie’s Edinburgh Fundraising Manager, Samantha Lea said:said: “This is a phenomenal donation, which has only been made possible by the support and enthusiasm of the NFT art community.
“As a charity we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations and on behalf of the entire team at Maggie’s Edinburgh I would like to say a huge thank you to Trevor, his team and the artists who donated their time, skills and incredible work to this unique charity auction.
“The money raised will help us to reach around 4,000 people with cancer, as well as family and friends, from across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders – helping them to access vital support at a time when they need it more than ever. We are so very grateful.”
The auction held at Château de Vallery near Paris, between September 3 and 5 saw the work of 30 exceptionally talented artists selected from over 400 applications.
World-renowned artists Pak, Hackatao, Jose Delbo, Pascal Boyart among others featured in the exhibition and an exceptionally generous donation by collector Moderats of a highly sought-after XCOPY work was also included in the auction.
A staggering 18,745 views of the artwork was recorded by hosting platform and sponsors, MakersPlace.
Trevor Jones commented: “We have been blown away by the incredible response to this monumental event.
“Web3 artists, collectors and builders from across the globe came together to celebrate art, innovation, and especially friendship in the name of my good friend Philippe. ‘Alotta’ was held in great esteem by all, and we have been deeply moved by the generosity of people marking his legacy.
“I’d like to personally thank the artists for their exceptional generosity and incredible work. I’d also like to thank MakersPlace for their role as sponsors and for supporting the exhibition as well as the numerous other Castle Party sponsors, and of course, I’d like to express my huge gratitude to all the bidders and auction winners.
“The funds raised will make a huge difference and will go to support services for those affected by a cancer diagnosis – patients and their families. This is certainly a wonderful way to remember such a beloved artist, also taken by this disease.”
Results this year greatly surpassed last year’s incredibly generous donations of £17,000 which was also collected for Maggie’s Edinburgh – when the inaugural Castle Party attracted guests from all over the world to Scotland’s Stirling Castle.
Love To Ride, the online community cycling platform, and partner charities of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, World Bicycle Relief and Maggie’s, have announced a partnership to change lives while encouraging Brits to get on their bikes.
The 23 Million Miles Challenge will see cyclists around the country contribute their rides – whether one or one hundred miles – to an epic 23 million mile goal ahead of the biggest cycling event in the world, the UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland, 3-13 August 2023. Cyclists can now fundraise for the life-changing partner charities whilst adding their mileage to the total.
World Bicycle Relief, the Championships’ global charity partner, provides purpose-designed, hard-wearing ‘Buffalo Bicycles’ to people in need in rural areas around the world where access to basic goods and services is affected by long distances and harsh terrain.
These bicycles help children, adults, families and communities reach life-changing education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Fundraising through the 23 Million Miles Challenge will help World Bicycle Relief to meet its target of providing 1 million bicycles by 2025.
After setting up a fundraising page for World Bicycle Relief, cyclists can register with Love to Ride, set a mileage goal, begin fundraising with family, friends or colleagues, then hit the saddle and start logging their miles.
Maggie’s, the Championships’ national charity partner, provides free, practical and psychological support to anyone living with cancer, their families and friends.Maggie’s centres offer a warm and welcoming place to go for people at every stage of cancer. Visitors can speak to professional staff including cancer support specialists, clinical psychologists, benefits advisors and relaxation therapists, who offer individual and group support to help live well with cancer.
By taking part in the 23 Million Miles Challenge and choosing to fundraise for Maggie’s, cyclists can directly contribute to the charity’s vital services and programs and support anyone living with cancer.
Maggie’s are calling on cycling fans to take part in their virtual Gran Fondo, challenging them to take on 250km or 500km by 13 August and raise funds to help support everyone living with cancer. Riders can sign up to receive a free cycling jersey, join Maggie’s Strava club, and start logging their miles with Love to Ride.
Claire Geiger, Director of Partnerships, World Bicycle Relief, said: “The UCI Cycling World Championships is bringing cycling to Scotland and the world on a scale we’ve never experienced before, but there’s more to the Championships than competition.
“These next few months are all about showcasing the power of the bike as not only a tool for sport, commuting, and recreation, but also for transportation in remote parts of the world. By logging miles and raising money, cyclists around the United Kingdom can help in the mission to get more people riding bikes.”
Adam Feder, Head of Partnerships, Maggie’s, said: “At Maggie’s we know how cycling – and movement in general – can play a huge part in emotional and physical recovery after cancer.
“That’s we’re delighted to be working with Love to Ride and the 2023 Cycling World Championships to showcase the #powerofthebike and encourage more people to get cycling to support their mental and physical health.”
Angus Rodney, Partnerships Manager for Scotland, Love To Ride, said: “Love to Ride are delighted to work in partnership with Maggies, World Bicycle Relief, and the 2023 Cycling World Championships team.
“Ultimately we want to inspire people to jump on their bikes, build some excitement around this amazing event which showcases the power of the bike. And motivate people to do their bit to contribute towards net zero.
“The goal is big, but by working together we can achieve big things!”
Find out more about the 23 Million Miles Challenge here.
Tesco Bank has announced two new major charity partnerships with The Trussell Trust and cancer support charity, Maggie’s.
The charities were voted for by Tesco Bank colleagues who were keen to focus their latest charity partnerships on supporting local communities as well as health and social causes. Colleagues are now looking forward to raising much-needed funds and volunteering across the UK for their chosen charities.
This latest announcement comes after Tesco Bank colleagues raised £245,000 for The People’s Kitchen, The Beatson, and LifeCare Edinburgh following a successful partnership with the charities.
Funds raised by Tesco Bank will help Maggie’s to continue providing free support online and in centres to people with cancer as well as their family and friends across the UK, and the Trussell Trust provide emergency food and support to people living in poverty.
Lynne Rennie-Smith, Director of Colleague Experience at Tesco Bank,said; “It’s important to recognise the life-saving work of charities such as The Trussell Trust and Maggie’s. Tesco Bank has a proud record of supporting the communities in which we operate, and I’m delighted these charities will benefit from our colleagues’ passion for fundraising for worthy causes.
“Thanks to these important partnerships, our colleagues are inspired to continue making a tangible difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable within our communities.”
Sophie Carre, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the Trussell Trust, said; “We are hugely grateful to Tesco Bank for choosing the Trussell Trust as one of their new charity partners. This partnership will help to support thousands of people facing financial hardship across the UK as we work to achieve our vision to end the need for emergency food in the UK.
“As the nation faces a rapid rise in the cost of living, too many families on the very lowest incomes are being forced to the doors of food banks to get by. No one should be unable to afford the essentials – and while we work to tackle the reasons why people don’t have enough money in their pockets, we hugely value the support of partnerships like this to ensure food banks are able to support people who are facing hunger right now.”
Sharon O’Loan, Fundraising Director at Maggie’s, said; “We are delighted that Tesco Bank has chosen Maggie’s as one of their new charity partners. Maggie’s support has never been more needed, as the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer treatment continues to be felt and the cost of living crisis becomes overwhelming for many people with cancer.
“The funds raised through this partnership will help us provide free support and information on everything from treatment options, psychological advice and benefits advice to thousands of people with cancer and their families across the UK.
“We’re excited about our new partnership with Tesco Bank and everything we’ll achieve together.”
As well as supporting Maggie’s and the Trussell Trust Tesco Bank is proud to utilise its ATM network to support a number of national causes including the NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation and the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Tesco Bank has offered customers the opportunity to make charitable donations of up to £300 through its network since 2012 and has since raised over £750,000 for good causes.
Scottish Ensemble is putting wellness centre stage with brand new events aimed at enhancing wellbeing through both music, and techniques and tools aimed at helping people find calm.
At a time when so many are struggling in terms of their mental health – coping with working from home, home-schooling, loneliness and even bereavement – SE launch Breathe: Music and Your Mind with Maggie’s, three events inspired by their longstanding relationship with the charity.
Supporting and developing their brilliant work with people with cancer and their families by bringing live music into their centres, which they have been doing since 2016, SE are taking their music and mindfulness sessions online with three free, one-hour events on Sunday 28 March at 3pm and Tuesday 30 March at both 2pm and then again at 5.30pm.
The ensemble will continue to share its trademark music for strings alongside reflections from Maggie’s Lead Psychologist, Lesley Howells, on how we can all use music in our daily lives to help us feel better.
Listening to music is one of the easiest ways to enhance well-being and the ensemble are encouraging audiences from all over the world to join them in escaping the rigmarole of the daily grind and restrictions and to help restore focus in an undeniably tumultuous world.
Young people’s mental health is also at risk due to the pressures and anxieties stemming from the pandemic, so the ensemble has also programmed a Maggie’s event for schools on Monday 29 March at 12.30pm.
Like the events for adults yet tailored to the needs of school age children (years P6-S6) this event will address the types of stresses these young people might be encountering, while perhaps also introducing them to new music.
With the increase in pressure on everyone’s mental health, we could all do with taking some time out for ourselves and these special performances will help viewers find new ways to listen and give them a taste of how to channel music to sweep away daily pressures.
William Norris, Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble said:“These free events give people a much-needed opportunity to switch off, step back, and put their own wellbeing centre stage.
“Maggie’s Centres are at the forefront of the quest to improve mental wellbeing with music and conversation, and the way they resiliently continue to improve the lives of so many every single day is truly inspiring.
“We’re delighted to be working with them again to help bring the soothing and stress-relieving power of music to as many people as possible, and can’t wait to see what this partnership brings in the future.”
In addition to these events, Scottish Ensemble continue to promote innovation and collaboration with 2021 digital programme as they announce new film First Light with celebrated Guest Director Max Baillie.
Premiering online on Thursday 29 April at 7.30pm (and available to view online thereafter for ticket holders until midnight on Monday 7 August) First Light is a collaboration between SE and self-described cross-pollinator, soloist, chamber musician, improviser and member of Lodestar Trio and ZRI, Max Baillie.
First Light is an uplifting concert featuring works by Haydn, Vivaldi, Jessie Montgomery, Steve Martland and Max Baillie himself, performed by SE musicians Kate Suthers, Kana Kawashima, Tristan Gurney, Laura Ghiro and George Smith on violin, Jane Atkins and Andrew Berridge on viola, Alison Lawrance and Naomi Pavri on cello, Diane Clark on bass and Jan Waterfield on the harpsichord.
Bringing life and energy to audiences via their screens, First Light signals the transition from darkness to brighter times and Max will lead viewers on a journey through joyful, uplifting and optimistic music, bursting with luminosity.
From Jessie Montgomery’s explosive Starburst, through the tempestuousness of a new string ensemble arrangement of Haydn’s ‘Fifths string quartet to Vivaldi’s vivacious Concerto Grosso in G minor, the programme presents a visual and sonic dialogue between old and new, between the human and the natural, between darkness and light.
Working with Flux Video to create a striking film, Scottish Ensemble invite audiences old and new to join them online to re-energise. Created under Covid-secure conditions First Light was filmed in the Engine Works, Glasgow; a venue that brings the tradition of Glasgow’s proud industrial history and blends it with a modern, contemporary and visionary concept.
William Norris,Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said: “First Light symbolises the transition that we are all going through right now, both in terms of slowly coming out of restrictions and also the changing of the seasons.
“Max brings a unique creative flare to everything he does, and his music-making reflects our values around innovation, reaching new audiences and promoting cross pollination of sounds and styles; it has been a privilege to have worked with him.
“We really hope our audiences, both new and existing, enjoy tuning in.”
Max Baillie, First Light Guest Director, said:“It was an absolute pleasure working with Scottish Ensemble to create First Light, which to me symbolises positivity and hope as we look towards spring and the rest of 2021.
“We have all had to adapt over the past 12 months and to be able to work with such a forward thinking, adaptable and innovative organisation was a hugely refreshing and rewarding experience. I really hope that audiences the world over enjoy First Light as much as I enjoyed making it.”
