[dropcap type =”circle”]A[/dropcap]Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed ball at Blenheim Palace has raised more than £12,000 for their staff-nominated charity – Maggie’s Oxford Centre.
The ball, which was held in the Palace’s Orangery on September 7, featured live music and an auction; with lots including a signed Radiohead album, a private tour of Westminster Abbey and tickets for Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace.
Throughout 2017 staff from the UNESCO World Heritage Site have been taking on challenges and organising events to fundraise for the Maggie’s, which is their official charity of the year.
“Maggie’s is a charity which is extremely important to our staff and they really went the extra mile to ensure this was a hugely successful and enjoyable event,” said Sarah Morris, Head of Human Resources at Blenheim Palace.
Maggie’s Oxford offers free practical, emotional and social support for people with cancer and their families and friends at its purpose-built centre in the grounds of the Churchill Hospital in Headington.
Pip Dingle, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Oxford said: “We would like to thank everyone at Blenheim Palace who helped organise this great event.
“The amount raised could cover the cost of our relaxation sessions for a whole year – these sessions are designed to help people find some peace and calmness as well as manage stress and improve well-being.
“The sessions run every Monday from 2pm to 3pm and can make a world of difference for someone going through a cancer diagnosis,” she added.
Founded on the ideas about cancer care originally laid out by Maggie Keswick Jencks, the centre provides a warm and welcoming place where anyone affected by cancer can access friendly and professional support on a drop-in basis, completely free of charge.
On average the Maggie’s Oxford Centre is used by 50 people every day, with 99% of people reporting they find the support helpful.
The centre is funded entirely by voluntary donations and does not receive any government or NHS funding.
The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and since then Maggie’s has continued to grow, with 19 Centres at major NHS cancer hospitals in the UK, online and abroad.