The Maggie's Forth Valley at The Nina Barough Building, is the 20th Maggie’s centre to be opened
A new Maggie’s Centre in Larbert has been named after Nina Barough, the founder of Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
The Maggie's Forth Valley at The Nina Barough Building, is the 20th Maggie’s centre to be opened.
It was named in honour of Barough after Walk the Walk provided a £3 million grant from funds raised by its iconic night-time fundraising event, The MoonWalk Scotland.
Built in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal Hospital it will offer free practical, emotional and social support for people with cancer and their family and friends.
The modern looking building was designed by acclaimed architects Garbers & James and was built to be a warm and welcoming space that can deliver a calm and uplifting environment.
Speaking at the opening, which was carried out by former First Minister Lord Jack McConnell, Laura Lee, Maggie's chief executive, said: "The opening of Maggie's Forth Valley at The Nina Barough Building, our 20th centre, is a landmark for Maggie's and hopefully an important day for people of Forth Valley living with cancer.
“They now have a beautiful and unique building in a stunning setting where I know they will find the calm they need while going through what is probably one of the hardest experiences of their lives.
“However, it is also a wonderful moment in the partnership between Maggie's and Walk the Walk and I would like to issue my personal thanks to Nina Barough, Walk the Walk and walkers of The MoonWalk Scotland, as well as the local Forth Valley community, for helping to make this happen."
Barough set up the grant making breast cancer charity Walk the Walk in 1998. It has gone on to raise £113m, with more than £19.6m in Scotland.
The Forth Valley centre is the second Maggie’s which the charity has been the principal funder of.
Barough, who did not know in advance that the centre was to be named after her, said: "This is such a magnificent day for Maggie's, because they're able to bring their service to Larbert and I think very quickly people here will wonder how they managed without it!
“It's also a fabulous day for Walk the Walk, our MoonWalkers and everyone who has contributed. To see their efforts manifested into something tangible is breath-taking.
“It's not about me, but it was a huge honour and surprise to find out that the centre is named after me and I'm still a bit discombobulated!"
Lord McConnell added: “For the residents of the Forth Valley area, this Maggie's Centre, with its expert staff and evidence based programme of support will be nothing short of a lifeline on their doorstep."
