On Saturday 26th July the GWR is running a special steam train in aid of Maggie's Cotswolds Cancer Care Centre. The train will depart from Toddington at 18:30, returning at approximately 20:00.

Ticket prices are £15 adults and £7.50 children (under 16) and these can be purchased from Maggie's (via their website www.maggiescentres.org ) or from Toddington Station. Ticket price includes a raffle and a children's quiz. There will be an on-train bar and for those passengers wishing to purchase a light snack or hot & cold drinks before they travel, the Flag & Whistle tearooms will remain open until 18:15.

A diagnosis of cancer is one of the most difficult challenges any of us may have to face in a lifetime. The disease is one of the major causes of mortality in the Cotswolds where 35,000 people are living with the disease today. With cancer numbers increasing year by year, supporting people is going to become ever more important. The NHS recognises the role of such help and the recent Cancer Reform Strategy cites Maggie's as an example of a high-quality, innovative support service.

Maggie's Cotswolds will be a calm, uplifting drop-in centre where anyone affected by cancer can go whenever they want. Maggie's professionally-staffed Centres are used by people at the time of diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. Maggie's offer emotional and psychological support, information, benefits advice and many other forms of support and self-help. Everything is free-of -charge. The people who come into Maggie's Centres - around 57,000 visits a year - find it can make a significant difference to how they live with and through this life-threatening disease.

Maggie's Cotswolds will be one of the new generation of Maggie's Centres to be built outside of Scotland over the next four years.  The centre will lie at the heart of the 3 Counties Cancer Network, a short walk from the Cancer Treatment Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital. The 3 Counties Cancer Network serves the populations of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, South Worcestershire and parts of Powys, approximately 1.1 million people. Within this area, there are more than 5,400 new cases of cancer a year. Maggie's Cotswolds will be there for all these people and those close to them.

Sir Richard MacCormac, CBE, has designed the conversion and extension plans for the new Centre. The design for Maggie's Cotswolds restores, renovates and extends a Grade II listed Victorian lodge which sits by the River Chelt. The extension will be clad and lined in locally sourced hardwood and sit under a large, winged roof that appears to float above the walls. Two cylindrical refuges will project into the specially designed garden areas, providing uplifting and secluded places where people can go.

The flexible open-plan interior will contain:

• A kitchen and dining area - the main focus of the building.
• Private counselling spaces where people will be able to get emotional and psychological support either individually or as part of a support group.
• A large living room for group support, relaxation sessions or simply somewhere you can sit peacefully.
• A library and information area.
• An office for administration and fundraising activities.
• A formal garden to provide a sanctuary that is near to but separate from the busy hospital.

Most importantly, Maggie's Cotswolds will be a home-from-home that is always there to help anyone affected by cancer.

It will cost approximately £3million to convert and extend the Pool Keeper's Lodge and run the programme of support at Maggie's Cotswolds.  Maggie's are asking the local community to raise £500,000 to support towards the building and running of the Centre with the remainder (£2.5m) coming from companies, individuals and trusts.

Maggie's Centres are an important part of each local community. Maggie's works in collaboration with the NHS to provide cancer support that is extremely easy to access. All of our existing centres and all of our planned centres are based within hospital grounds, near to the cancer departments.

Each centre is a homely, informal, domestic environment, with support being tailored to the individual needs of those who visit - there is no appointment system, time limits or set requirements on visitors. The kitchen table is an important aspect of a Maggie's centre, a place where people feel immediately familiar and comfortable, and most importantly, in control.

Christiane Dickens of Maggie's Cotswolds said 'I am very excited about the upcoming event at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in aid of Maggie's. Maggie's Cotswolds will bring much needed care and support to the thousands of people who are touched by cancer in their lifetime and this event will help us make the Centre a reality. The support of GWR is greatly appreciated and I would like to thank all those who are working hard to make the day a success.'

"Above all what matters is not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying". Maggie Keswick Jencks

For further details please contact:
Christiane Dickens
Fundraising Co-ordinator
Maggie's Cotswolds
christiane.dickens@maggiescentres.org
Direct Line:  01242 250611
Mobile Number:  07866 742 176