Feb 9, 09 : Eileen Gibson

Hi, I was delighted to hear that you are supporting Maggie's Centre. I agree with you that it is a really painful and heartbreaking time for both patients and their families when someone is diagnosed with cancer.

My father died in 1977 with lung cancer and the medical care was almost non existent. The support was totally non existent. Our family had to support each other and look after our Mum.

Last year one of the young girls in my team at work, Michelle, had the devastating news that her Mum had cancer. She has spent months helping her Mum and trying to keep the rest of the family ticking. Often it has been too much for her. She started taking her Mum to Maggie's and has done nothing but praise the centre and the staff. She could not believe the support and help that they both received. Michelle has said often that she doesn't know how they would have coped with out Maggie's. Thankfully, after major surgery, Michelle's Mum got the news that everyone prays for, 'the all clear'. Although she received this news, her Mum is still very unwell.

Since then, Michelle and her Mum still attend Maggie's and now Michelle wants to return some of the goodwill and help that she was given. She is organising a team to get sponsors to do the 10k lady's run in Glasgow. I think that she has around 30 women now supporting her, including her boss, her boss and her boss. Not bad eh?? Our employer is ScottishPower and Michelle has received a lot of support from them. She has just contacted one of our directors who had offered to donate money to charity. The company was matching £1 for every 1lb lost across Customer Collections. He has agreed that a donation will be made to Maggie's. Brilliant!!! She has also asked the company to match some of the money raised from the 10k.

It is great to see people willing to give something back. Thanks to you and people like Michelle. We will continue to support this good cause. If there is anything that you are organising that we can help with or participate in, please let me know.

Kindest regards and thanks,

Eilean.