HIGHLAND CROSS 2003 CHARITIES
     

MAGGIE'S CANCER CARING CENTRE

Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust (MKJCCCT) has been asked by the Highland Health Board to establish a Maggies's Centre to serve the Highlands of Scotland.  Plans are underway to build a new centre in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital, Inverness opposite the hospitals oncology unit.

The new Maggie's Highlands, as it will be known, will cost over £1million to build with running costs around £200,000 per annum.  We have been very fortunate to receive an award of £550,000 from the New Opportunities Fund towards the establishment of the centre.  The award is a three-year contribution towards capital and running costs.

Maggie's Centres offers a separate environment to address the information and support needs for each patient and their family and this will complement the medical provision at Raigmore, ensuring all patients benefit from the very best holistic treatment.

Up to1,300 people from our widely dispersed Highland and Island communities are diagnosed with cancer each year at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.  At any time approximately 6,000 of the population in the Highlands and their families live with cancer.  Moreover, consultants at Raigmore expect to see the number of new cases increase by 40% over the next 10 years due to local demographic changes.

With 1 in 3 of us expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives, each of us may welcome information and support from Maggie's Highlands in the future, either as a patient, family member or friend.

 

SNAP

Special Needs Action Project (SNAP) was established in 1995 and has grown to become one of the main Out of School Car Service providers in the Inverness area for children/young people who participate in SNAP's activities.

SNAP is a charitable voluntary section organisation offering a range of 'play and leisure' Services.  These include After School Clubs, School Holiday Leisure Schemes and Saturday outings to places of interest and recreation in the community.

All the children/young people who attend SNAP have a variety of special needs and attend school out with their local community.  SNAP offers an important opportunity for the children to socialise with their peers, access 'mainstream' activities, help develop their independence and essentially to take time away from their families.  Above all SNAP is a place of Fun!

For the parents and families of children/young people, SNAP offers a form of respite from their caring role in the knowledge that their child is in a safe and happy environment.

Core funding for SNAP's activities is partly provided by Highland Council and NHS Highland but as with many voluntary sector organisations in the field of special needs, great reliance is placed upon donations and fundraising.

SNAP has its own 14 seater minibus that was kindly donated by Highland Cross in 1997.  This minibus, 'SNAPPIE' is now an essential requirement for the transportation of children to and from home and school, as well as enabling SNAP to offer its wide range of Services throughout the area.

In the light of the increased demand for SNAP's Services and the need to increase the minibus seating to 17, SNAP now wish to purchase a new minibus and are delighted to have been selected as a nominated charity for the 2003 Highland Cross in support of this major fundraising project.

 

HIGHLAND DISABILITY SPORT

Highland Disability Sport (HDS) is the branch member of Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) and was formed in 1982.  Its main role is to promote, foster and develop sport and leisure activities in the Highlands for all the disabled or handicapped persons and encourage them to participate as well as integrate with able-bodied clubs.

It organises various local annual sports events and co-ordinated participation in National Competitions.

This year the Highland Council has appointed Charles Forbes as Highland Disability Sports Development offices and his remit is to increase the participation numbers in all ages, recruit more coaches and more volunteers.

This necessary increase in activity means that the costs involved of transporting people to and from events plus renting facilities are about to increase.  The current vehicle has served disabled sportspeople very well but its age and increased running costs no longer make it an economic asset but more of a cost liability.

Funds from the Highland Cross will contribute towards a new vehicle to match the needs of disabled sportspeople and their helpers.  It is vital for everyone to raise as much money as possible to give the less able-bodied sportspeople a chance to enjoy or compete in a sporting activity.

On behalf of Highland Disability Sport may I wish you an enjoyable, successful and safe Highland Cross.

JANET HOME

Chairperson Highland Disability Sport