Freemasons support national cancer charity, as new centre opens in Northampton
On Monday 20th October the head of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire Freemasons, Mark Constant attended the official opening of Maggie’s Northampton, along with donors who made the desire for a Maggie’s in Northampton into a reality. The project from start to finish that has taken over 12 years to come to fruition.
Dianna Russell, a member of the Fitz family, a well-known lady racing driver from the 60’s, was the main influential benefactor, and the centre has been named in her honour. Dianna’s son flew in from America to address the opening.
Mark was pleased to be able to witness the opening of a Maggie’s Centre first hand, as the local fraternity have raised over £165,000 for a similar facility to be built at Addenbrookes in Cambridge, and on the 29th October, Liz Summers & Jodie Murch from the charity would be speaking to a large group of local Freemasons at one of their annual meetings at their headquarters in Sheaf Close, Northampton. Liz & Jodie delivered a talk on the work of Maggie’s Centres nationwide. Maggie's Centres provide free cancer support and information for anyone with cancer and their loved ones through professional staff, workshops, and online resources.
Pictured with Liz Summers and Jodie Mutch at the opening, Mark said: "I am looking forward to hearing the presentation from Liz and Jodie on the 29th, and am sure that our members will be interested to find out more about not only this new centre in Northampton, but also the planned centre at Addenbrookes, and more in general about how Maggie’s has a positive impact on patients and their families."
He added, “When there was a call to donate money for the Addenbrookes Centre, our Province were only to pleased to raise the amount at very short notice, but we realise that our donation was only a fraction of what is needed to build such a complex, and seeing all the donors come together for the Northampton opening highlights all the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes, from so many quarters and over such a period of time, to be able to supply this wonderful facility.”
For more information about the Freemasons work in the community, please visit their Provincial website here – www.northants-huntsmasons.org.uk, and for more information about Maggie’s Charity, please visit their website here - www.maggies.org