My mum was diagnosed with Gastric cancer in Feb last year, she had a dificult year. Many times throughout the year, when things were really difficult, my Mum and I visited the centre. The staff there are amazing. Each time my Mum went, she came out feeling so much much better. It is wonderful to be able to speak to people who understand and can offer different types of help.

Although my mum was given the all clear in December 2008 . We were told on the 6th of March 2009 that the cancer was back and was terminal. My mum passed away on the 20th of March 2009, 3 weeks to the day she was given this news. Throughout the whole year my mum showed great courage and strength of spirit. On the few occasions her emotions were weaker in 2008 it was Maggies who helped us through. After I received the news that my mums cancer was terminal, I went to the centre, I was able to have a thorough chat about what the last few weeks were likley to be like for my mum and for myself, it prepared me as much as a person can be prepared for this. I was also given good advice on how to go about breaking the news to my children, in particular my 12 year old son who was extremely close to my mum. My instincts would have been to protect him from most of what was going on but through the advise given that day , I included him as much as I could. After my mum passed away I spoke to the centre on the phone and with their advice allowed my son more input in the final arrangements. This has made my son and I even closer over the past few weeks and has made him feel like his opinions really count. I am really struggling to find the adequate words to describe how much I have benefited from the Maggies centre and would like to have this oppurtunity to raise awareness of their work and money to help them continue their work for other families