Maggie's Kitchen Table Day in Lanarkshire

Table talk...at Maggie's Lanarkshire where a lot of discussions are taking place about Kitchen Table Day on Friday, February 26. (Contributed pic)

It is for that very reason that the kitchen table is also at the heart of every Maggie’s Centre the length and breadth of the country.

This year, to celebrate Maggie’s 20th birthday in Scotland and to raise awareness of its work, the charity has launched a fundraiser – celebrating its unique formula.

Gillian Hailstones, who is Maggie’s head of centres operation in Scotland, explained: “The kitchen table is at the heart of every Maggie’s Centre.

“It’s at the centre of everything we do; it’s the first place people come to.

“There’s something very familiar about sitting down at a kitchen table.

“People feel comfortable there because it’s not clinical – it feels more everyday so it immediately makes everyone feel more at ease and relaxed.”

So it made sense when considering how to celebrate Maggie’s achievements since 1996 to ensure the kitchen table was represented. That’s how Kitchen Table Day was born!

The inaugural event will be held on Friday, February 26, when people are being asked to stage fundraisers round their own kitchen tables, inviting friends and family to join in.

Maggie’s is solely funded by donations. It costs £500,000 to run each of its eight centres annually – meaning Maggie’s in Scotland has to raise £4 million every year to provide its ground-breaking services.

In 2015, there were 75,000 visits to the Scottish centres and 198,000 UK-wide.

Maggie’s offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends. Built in the grounds of specialist NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s Centres are warm and welcoming, with professionals on hand to offer support.

Maggie’s Lanarkshire is based in The Elizabeth Montgomerie Building at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

It is inviting people to drop in from noon to 2pm on February 26 for soup and cake with staff, in return for a donation. Contact [email protected] or call 01236 771199.

To find out more about Maggie’s and its Kitchen Table Day, pick up a copy of this week’s paper and enjoy our in-depth feature!