National Lottery Awards 2013

Monday, 8 July 2013

CITY CANCER CENTRE IN RACE FOR LOTTO CASH

A GLASGOW refuge for cancer victims is in the running for Lotto cash.

The Calman Cancer Support Centre has been shortlisted for a £2000 National Lottery award – but it needs public backing.

It is the running for the Best Heritage Project, after beating 900 rival entries from across the UK less than a year after the centre open-ed at Gartnavel following a £1.5million upgrade.

The centre is run by Cancer Support Scotland, which offers treatment rooms to victims as well as counselling and a range of complementary therapies. Services also involve stress management, dealing with hair loss, chiropody and hypnotherapy.

Chief executive Colin Graham, said: "Before we moved to the new facility in November last year we were based in a cramped former nurses' flat and in desperate need of larger premises.

"The new support centre at Gartnavel Chapel is outstanding and has sur-passed all my expectations.

"It's a wonderfully nurturing environment for cancer out-patients to visit and, with the additional space, we are already on course to treble the number of people benefiting from the services we offer to more than 2000."

The former chapel is one of seven listed in its category in the National Lottery Awards. Rivals include the Cutty Sark Conservation Project in London and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Glasgow Building Preservation Trust brought the derelict chapel back to life when it launched an upgrade which saw the National Lottery invest around £365,000 in the renovation.

Trust official Gill Stewart said: "National Lottery funding has helped us to save a beautiful former hospital chapel from dereliction and transform it into a flagship therapy centre where people who are affected by cancer can take time away from the pressures of their daily lives.

"It would mean so much to everyone involved for us to win this award."

The project which attracts the biggest number of public votes will win the £2000 prize money. Mr Graham is urging Scots to cast their vote by visiting http://bit.ly/gartnavel or calling 0844 836 9693. Supporters can also spread the word by tweeting #VoteGartnavel, #ItCould BeUs or #NLAwards.

Evening Times, 08/07/2013
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/city-cancer-centre-in-race-for-lotto-cash-129810n.21536002