LEATHERHEAD U3A COLLECT DONATIONS FOR MAGGIE’S CANCER CARE CENTRE, ROYAL MARSDEN HOSPITAL, SUTTON
In 2023, Vic Piper, joint leader of Leatherhead u3a’s Architecture Group, presented his research on “Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres”.
Vic concentrated on the development of “Maggie’s” from the experiences of its founder, cancer-stricken Maggie Jencks, who was left to discuss her final few months with her architect husband, Charles, in a windowless, busy corridor.
However, Maggie and Charles were able to entice worldwide famous architects, from Ab Rogers to Zaha Habib to design individual Maggie’s as “everyone’s home of cancer care” for patients, family and friends. In her final years, Maggie worked alongside her cancer nurse, Laura Lee who is currently the CEO of the charity. There are currently 27 Maggie’s in the UK and 4 abroad.
The main specification for each Maggie’s was that the kitchen area would be the welcoming, friendly area seen as one walked into the Centre. (right)
Ab Rogers, son of Richard, designed the Sutton Maggie’s, a stunning terracotta building with a garden designed by Dutch landscape architect Piet Oudolf.
The large kitchen table is adorned with fruit, cakes, biscuits etc. Visitors can make themselves a drink, sit round the table meeting people and exchanging stories. In addition, there would be various spaces of differing sizes and décor where visitors could quietly and privately talk with professionals.
Vic arranged a visit and tour for three of us who found it to be very interesting and enlightening. As each Maggie’s is donation funded, I promised to see if Leatherhead u3a could help by contributing kitchen commodities. At meetings in 2023 & 2024 we have collected biscuits, tea, coffee, cakes, and paper supplies.
A recent letter from Lydia showed how much Maggie’s appreciate our help. We visited on December 20th 2024 with our largest amount of donations, 7 large bags, a large shopping trolley plus £55 in cash donations!
Thank you very much!
Muriel Roberts
Group Coordinator