Maggie's Matters spring edition 2015

Maggie’sMattersSpring Edition 2015

Breakthrough newcancer treatments By Professor Bob Leonard

Mindfulness at Maggie’sBy Mary Turner

Delicious seasonal cooking From Tom Kitchin

What’s so different about Nordic Walking?

Walking back to happiness

Professor Bob Leonard, oncologist and Chair of Maggie’s Professional Advisory Board

Page 2 Maggie’s Matters Spring Edition 2015

Welcome from Laura Lee, Maggie’s Chief Executive

CyberKnife, the revolutionary new alternative to radiotherapy, can now be used to treat virtually any tumours, the makers claim, including those within the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney. The CyberKnife treatment involves a small particle accelerator which is attached to a robotic arm, in order to direct the energy at the body via many directions at once. The fact that the beams are so precisely directed means that each one can be much weaker than normal,as the full focus of the energy is only on the tumour itself, rendering far less damage to the surrounding tissue.

This non-invasive alternative to surgery also entails X-ray cameras which make adjustments for movement and breathing, so the patient no longer needs to be uncomfortably restrained in the manner of traditional radiotherapy. The treatment itself is completely painless, and has recently been used to remove the brain tumour of a fi ve-year-old boy with pinpoint accuracy.

The precision of the therapy – the beams work within 0.5mm, compared to radiotherapy’s usual 5–10mm – means increased doses are possible, which in turn could reduce treatment times. Prostate cancer treatment could shorten from more

What’s in the news?

Immunotherapy, the treatment technique which harnesses the body’s own immune system, is showing increasing potential for combating cancers. The US-based Cancer Research Institute describes immunotherapy as ‘the most promising new cancer treatment approach since the development of the fi rst chemotherapies in the late 1940s’. The three separate kinds of immunotherapy (cell-based, antibody and cytokine) are at the cutting edge of cancer research, and offer positive signs that the new treatments could be more effectiveand less toxic than existing options.

Although cancer immunotherapy research has been going on since the 1970s, treatments for kidney cancer have previously fallen into disuse due to their potentially serious side effects, but recent clinical trials have begun to show results that have encouraged pharmaceutical companies to make substantial investments.

Tumours grow when our immune system is unable to attack mutating cells, with some cancers effectively tricking antibodies into ‘switching off’ the immune response altogether. Immunotherapy works by boosting immune response, with the immune system specifi cally recognising and targeting cancer cells, or switching it back on when it has failed to recognise the mutating cells as a threat, both of which result in few to no side effects. It also means that the therapy continues to protect the patient’s body even after the treatments ends.

The Cancer Research Institute explains that ‘because of the immune system’s extraordinary power, its capacity for memory, and its exquisite specifi city, these treatments have the potential to achieve complete, long-lasting remissions and cancer cures’.

Bob Leonard’s view

Welcome

At the end of the nineteenth century the idea of vaccinating against cancer was conceived and used in America; the crude product however was ineffective and toxic. Sporadic attempts were not successful over the next century until some general immune-stimulants were manufactured that had real but modest benefi ts, including interferons and interleukins that help the immune system produce cells to attack cancers.

The ground-breaking new alternative to radiotherapy

than seven weeks to just one week, and lung cancer treatment from six weeks to a mere three days. There could be fewer hospital visits overall, too: visits for palliative radiotherapy could be reduced from ten to one. CyberKnife offers particular hope to those patients who have inoperable, or surgically complicated tumours, and could potentially be used to treat tumours that are in diffi cult positions like the spinal cord.

Due to its newness within the NHS, The Royal Marsden Hospital is conducting research into the benefi ts of the technology, in order to ensure that all those patients who may benefi t from the treatment have full access to it. Helen Taylor, CyberKnife Lead Radiographer at the Royal Marsden, said, “Patients undergoing standard radiotherapy normally come into hospital for daily treatment sessions for up to two months. This can be quite gruelling and affects their everyday life. For those patients who can receive radiotherapy with CyberKnife,it has really transformed their treatment.”

The treatment is now offered in six UK hospitals, The London Clinic, the CyberKnife Centre, Mount Vernon, St James, The Royal Marsden and Barts, the latter two of which are currently in the process of having a Maggie’s Centre built within their grounds.

Cancer immunotherapytreatment

Looking back to the end of 2014 – and Maggie’s 18th year – a huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported, took partand helped organise our Christmas Carol Concert at St Paul’s Cathedral. The eventwas a huge success, raising over £500,000 towards growing Maggie’s network ofCentres in London.

Spring is certainly on its way now, with crocuses and daffodils appearing in our Centre gardens, heralding the start to 2015. In January, we welcomed our President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, to Maggie’s Newcastle to see the new Centre and meet with the ‘Monday Mornings for Men’ group (see page 8).

We have a busy year of building ahead of us following on from the ground breaking at Forth Valley in March. It is always a very special time when Maggie’s starts to build a new Centre, and I greatly look forward to watching all the new sites progress into fully functioning Centres (see page 9).

2015 will see valuable developments to our programme of support. Already, the fi rst prostate cancer support course, delivered in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, has been rolled out across all our Centres and Maggie’s Glasgow will shortly begin trialling our ‘Making a Start’ group, in partnership with Rangers football team. We also refl ect on other new programme elements this spring, with a focus on mindfulness and the increasingly popular Nordic Walking, available across our Centres.

Recent surveys showed 99% of visitors gave a good or excellent rating of their experience at Maggie’s, and 89% stated Maggie’s was completely or mostly meeting their needs. We look forward to supporting even more people with cancer as we continue to strengthen and deepen our support programmes. I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support of Maggie’s and wish everyone well for the year ahead.

These early innovations heralded what has become a quiet revolution in the treatment of cancers with immunotherapy. Recent developments include antibodies that take cytotoxic drugs or radiation directly to the cancer cell, thereby reducing side effects whilst increasing the cancer cell destruction. Cancer vaccines include ‘prevention vaccines’ such as Gardasil, which vaccinates against the human papillomavirus (HPV), known to cause cervical cancer, among others, and which targets the cancerous cells without affecting healthy cells.

The other more established new development is the use of the CyberKnife, which depends on clever robotics that employ novel computing software to provide detailed images of the cancer under attack. This allows better targeting with intensive doses of radiation of the target cancertissue, whilst more effectively sparingthe surrounding normal tissue.

These novel developments have to be seen within the UK context where 300,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year and ever increasing. The health service is struggling to

cope with the demand; and whilst the public and health care professionals are aware of these new treatments and diagnostics, they are often unable to access them.

The public’s expectations are raised by media ‘breakthrough’ reports bolstered by internet sites and there has been an explosion of new, targeted, but non-curative drugs that typically treat a much narrower range of cancers and therefore help fewer patients.A new drug will not be sold in large volumes, but development costs are fi xed and usually measured in billions of dollars. The advent of the CyberKnife and immunotherapy pose real fi nancial challenges to the payers (i.e. the NHS) in prioritising treatments for cancer sufferers, and governments have to make choices. Healthcare costs are spiralling in all economies and limits to spending are real.

Thanks to improved cancer care, better organisation of services and the impact of universally applied policies of care from integrated teams of specialists, patients are living longer; though the UK is still doing less well than many of our European counterparts with equivalent economies.

Grandma... I love our dog too – and she’d know if I left her out!

“Every event is full of amazing and inspiring memories: watching the sunrise over London near the end of a Culture Crawl or hearing Centre visitors share their experiences...”

This edition of Maggie’s Matters focuses on Nordic walking and mindfulness, both ways of helping stay grounded in life. Do you practise any techniques or ways to stay grounded or mindful of the world around you?Walking and mindfulness – there’s two right there. I’ve yet to try Nordic walking but I

Maggie’s Matters Spring Edition 2015 Page 3

Actress and presenter Janet Ellis has been a supporter of Maggie’s for many years. She talks about her role as an Honorary Patron and what it means to her.

hold the fondest memories for you and why? I actually really loved the first walk I did – over the Ridge near Princes Risborough. It was the first time I’d met a lot of supporters all together – and what a lovely bunch they were! But every event is full of amazing and inspiring memories: watching the sunrise over London near the end of a Culture Crawl or hearing Centre visitors share their experiences... I could go on and on. St Paul’s was very special too.

At St Paul’s you talked beautifully about love and Maggie’s and that it is love which makes Maggie’s special. What are the biggest loves in your life? I am very blessed with a wonderful family and a terrific group of friends. By a strange quirk of fate, my three grandsons are the best, most beautiful and most talented boys ever. I’m sure I’d think that even if I wasn’t their

You have been an Honorary Patron to Maggie’s for many years now – what does the charity mean to you? Maggie’s philosophy is such a simple, graceful and kind idea – caring for anyone affected by the diagnosis of cancer. I wish it had been around for people I’ve lost and I want to protect and enlarge its future for others.

“Maggie’s philosophy is such a simple, graceful and kind idea – caring for everyone affected by the diagnosis of cancer.”

Over the years you have been kind enough to support many Maggie’s events, most recently reading at St Paul’s Carol Concert. Which Maggie’s events that you have attended

A few words

try and do a long walk at least three times a week and walk everywhere anyway. I adore it. I’ve been doing a version of mindfulness for years, ever since I was a drama student. I also find cooking very therapeutic.

You have a new book out shortly, can you tell us about it? It’s my first novel and I’m very excited! That’s all I can say at the moment.

Describe your perfect weekend Brunch and the papers, two long walks, food with the family somewhere and a trip to a gallery, the cinema or the theatre. One of John (my husband’s) cocktails as well, please. I wouldn’t say no to Paris, either. Are you reading this, John?

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? An actress. Always. Even before I really knew what it meant. No one in my family was anything to do with the profession so goodness knows where it came from.

Janet Ellis with The One Show presenter, Kaye Adams, raising awareness for Maggie’s


Walking Back to Happiness

Photograph © Philip Durrant

“It’s the green gym”, John Jones enthuses, Nordic Walking leader and instructor at Maggie’s Swansea, “Whatever the weather you can be out, getting your vitamin D, with the greenness helping to lift the mood.” John has been Nordic Walking for nine years, but comes from an RAF background where Nordic skiing and outdoor expeditions were part of everyday life.

He now leads a Prostate Cancer UK-sponsored group at Maggie’s Swansea, with walkers from many different cancer backgrounds and with many varying health levels. “Anyone who can walk, can Nordic Walk – and even if someone uses two walking sticks, or has poor initial mobility, Nordic Walking can still help build up strength and fitness,” he explains. “Nordic Walking teaches coordination, balance, and gets everyone fitter.”

It’s a unique form of exercise which uses more than 90% of the body’s muscles, and involves shorter poles than the long hiking poles most people expect. Carolyn Hughes, instructor at Maggie’s West London, explains, “With these poles you press down and back, which moves you up and forwards and pushes you onto your toes, giving you momentum as you walk and a little lift with each step. It increases your speed, which means you’re getting more of a cardiovascular exercise than regular walking, and you’re also using your upper body much more actively.”

Nordic Walking began in Finland, where skiers were looking for a summertime version of cross-country skiing, but has grown in popularity and now has more than ten million participants across the world. Walks in the UK can vary from the peaceful calm of the Welsh hills right through to the vibrant city centre streets and parks of London, where Carolyn Hughes loves to walk. She describes how perfectly suited Nordic Walking is for Maggie’s Centres visitors. “It’s exactly the right intensity for when you’ve got fatigue, it’s

the right level of sociability for when you’re in recovery, and it has the upper body aspect for when you’re recovering from breast cancer. In fact, clinical evidence has now shown Nordic Walking is ideal for increasing shoulder mobility for those patients with frozen shoulder after breast surgery, or who just stop using that side of their body where they’ve had the cancer.”

And it’s more than the simple mechanics of the walking. Sarah Hughes, Centre Head at Maggie’s Swansea observes, “Nordic walking can assist with the side effects of treatment – including fatigue, low mood, weight gain and hormonal symptoms like hot flushes. But being able to talk to others going through a similar experience is really powerful.” Nordic Walkers from Maggie’s Swansea report that besides already feeling more flexible and fit, it’s meeting in a group that’s most important.

“The evidence for exercise after cancer is compelling, offering anything up to a 40% decrease in the cancer coming back. And every single side effect of cancer treatments can potentially be assisted by exercise.”

Carolyn Hughes describes some of her walks: “The conversations can be so valuable. Once we’ve set off I keep quiet, and that peer to peer contact while looking at beautiful nature brings out the reflective side in people. I hear some cracking conversations – who does the best wig, or what drugs are you on – and you can’t get that in a clinical environment. And the fact that it’s not a formal support group means you can talk about your cancer or you can just be talking about the weather.”

Sarah Hughes at Swansea echoes that, saying, “The value of sharing with those who understand is immense and shouldn’t be underestimated. The group support each other and look forward to meeting each week; it can give a feeling of focus and something uplifting to look forward to.”

A walker from Maggie’s West London puts it into words: “Every week I meet at Maggie’s for a magical Nordic Walk by the Thames – I say magical, because for me it’s exactly that. After my Chemotherapy, I was left with chronic fatigue, but with Nordic walking the fatigue has improved enormously and my low mood seems to have vanished. Grab it with two hands – or should I say two poles.”

“I get pleasure from seeing people get fitter – seeing their progress, seeing people get stronger and happier.”

The benefits of general fitness can be immense. Instructor Carolyn Hughes continues, “The evidence for exercise after cancer is compelling, offering anything up to a 40% decrease in the cancer coming back. And every single side effect of cancer treatments can potentially be assisted by exercise.”

John Jones concludes: “I get pleasure from seeing people get fitter – seeing their progress, seeing people get stronger and happier. Increased fitness has a positive effect mentally, physically and spiritually – and every single walker gets a beautiful glow.”


What’s so different about Nordic Walking? How can this activity make a difference to your mind, body and spirit, and what is it that makes it so perfect for Maggie’s visitors? Whether it’s an urban form of Nordic Walking in central London or striding out across the Welsh Hills; here the benefits are explored.

Walking Back to Happiness

Maggie’s West London Nordic walking group stretching before a class

Walking with poles for exercise was first seen in Finland in 1966

People’s Postcode Lottery taking part in a Nordic Walking class at Maggie’s Dundee

To find out which Maggie’s Centres have Nordic Walking classes visit: www.maggiescentres.org

The chances are you will have heard the term ‘mindfulness’ mentioned at some point recently; it’s being talked about everywhere from businesses to schools to the NHS. From radio discussions to newspaper articles, courses, books and apps, mindfulness has gained momentum as a growing trend over the past few years. Earlier this year, an All Party Parliamentary Group published an interim report on bringing mindfulness into different areas of public policy, such as education, healthcare, work, and criminal justice, to reduce stress, and improve wellbeing. It looks like this potentially transformative way of being, living and responding to oneself and others could soon be even more accessible, and even more established, as a new approach for today’s overstressed society.

In brief, mindfulness is the practise of directing our attention to our experience as it unfolds, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Mindfulness practise invites you to bring your attention to the present moment with an intention of acceptance, paying attention to thoughts and feelings without judging them, without believing there is a right or wrong way to think in any given moment. These practises have the intention of teaching people practical skills that can be incorporated into daily life, and which can help manage physical and psychological health problems. Observing how we are thinking about, and reacting to, any given situation can open up new possibilities for how we can feel and subsequently behave. With practise, these skills can allow us to navigate ongoing challenges in life with calmness, clarity, curiosity, compassion and resilience.

Mindfulness isn’t a new concept. With roots in Buddhism, this practise has been

around for some 2,500 years. Meditation and the practise of mindfulness entered the mainstream arena during the 70s, mainly through the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, a medical doctor and molecular scientist in Massachusetts. In the 90s, Mark Williams, a clinical psychologist, and his colleagues based in Oxford, contributed further research on this theme, which led to the development of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Several evidence-based approaches that incorporate mindfulness practise have since been developed, to help people manage physical and psychological health. These are taught in courses worldwide by trained facilitators who incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.

Vicky, 42, visited her local Maggie’s recently, after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Having worked in the creative industries for 20 years, she was used to a fast working pace and high pressure, and admits “being notoriously bad at sitting still”. Following her diagnosis, and during treatment, it became clear that life wouldn’t quite be the same again. But Vicky wanted to make sure that at least some elements of her life were better, and decided to take part in the eight-week mindfulness course at Maggie’s.

“The course has been… the golden thread that saw me through the second half of chemo, and taught me to listen to my body with curiosity. It’s taught me that I have huge resources within myself, including focus and calm, and a few simple techniques to help access them. Whilst I’m not practising formally every day, I’m still fi nding I can ‘tune in’ to my body when I need to. It’s really reassuring to know that this skill is at hand in the background, and that all I need is my own breath. I defi nitely get less frustrated by the little things in life


Recent research has uncovered signifi cant benefi ts of practising mindfulness, including increasing compassion and managing stress. Mary Turner, Cancer Support Specialist at Maggie’s West London, talks about the benefi ts of mindfulness and how it’s working at Maggie’s.

Mindfulness at Maggie’s

now. I’m much more easily able to slow down, to take a moment and to recognise negative patterns of thinking.”

“Numerous research studies have shownthat people who learn to practise mindfulness fi nd they are better able to cope with their cancer experience, fi nding an increased wellbeing and enjoyment of life.”

Showing that age is no barrier to a new approach, Eileen, a lady in her 80s who visited Maggie’s having been diagnosed with advanced cancer of the colon, shared this refl ection after she had completed the mindfulness course:

“It was deeply rewarding, and made me realise how mindfulness has become an integral part of my life. I’m sure it’s one of the reasons I’m accepting the prospect of my imminent demise so cheerfully, and I’m enormously grateful.”

Numerous research studies have shown that people who learn to practise mindfulness fi nd they are better able to cope with their cancer experience, fi nding an increased wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Researchers at Harvard recently discovered through neuroimaging, that people who had been practising mindfulness daily displayed measurable changes in the brain. Such is the strength of the benefi ts of mindfulness, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended a cognitive-based mindfulness

course for the treatment of recurring episodes of depression.

A cancer diagnosis gives rise to so many physical and emotional challenges which, as we are aware, may continue well beyond treatment for the person experiencing cancer, and their family and friends. Mindfulness as an approach to meeting these challenges is a natural evolution of our ground-breaking programme of support at Maggie’s. The way in which our mindfulness courses are run embodies the Maggie’s ethos: these courses are group-based, educational, supportive psychologically, empowering and encouraging of an active participation in individual health and wellbeing. Psychologists and mindfulness practitioners at Maggie’s use a stress-reduction based mindfulness throughout many aspects of our programme of support, as well as delivering more specifi c mindfulness workshops and courses. Some of our practitioners are further trained in the cognitive-based component.

As a cancer support specialist and a mindfulness teacher, it is a privilege to see the incremental and benefi cial effects of mindfulness lived and experienced by the people who come to Maggie’s. People who have attended our eight-week mindfulness course have experienced new ways of being, of coping with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis, of supporting a loved one,and of living with bereavement. I noticepeople looking brighter and more relaxed, struggling a bit less, and expressing a greater enthusiasm for living their life.

Top tips in learning tobe mindful

Awareness of the breathFind a quiet comfortable place to sit or lie down. First take a normal breath then try a deep breath; breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest and lower belly to rise as you fi ll your lungs. Let your abdomen expand fully. Now breathe out slowly through your mouth (or nose if it feels more natural).

Ground yourself in this moment Either standing or sitting become aware of the contact of the full surface area of the soles of your feet against the fl oor. Feel sensations of touch, temperature and pressure. Feeling and sensing rather than thinking about what you are doing.

Take a mindful tea breakBring your full awareness to the experience of drinking the tea. Holding the cup in your hands, feel the heat against the hands, taste the tea, smell the aroma of the blend. Open up your awareness to this moment. Allow yourself this time to be just for you.

I’ve been coming to Maggie’s since my wife Isobel was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve always had an admiration for the place, but it was only when Isobel became ill, and had the most amazing day here the first time she visited, that I realised how special it is. It’s been four years since she died, and I still come here every Thursday.

One of the first times I came here alone, one of the Maggie’s team came over to ask whether my wife was Isobel Dalgetty, who’d worked at the Royal Bank in Edinburgh? That team member turned out to be one of my wife’s old colleagues, and from that day forward I felt a special bond not only with him, but all the people who work here. One day during her treatment, Isobel came to Maggie’s for a makeover day with a beautician. She came home with a vanity case bursting with all the latest makeup – since she was always perfectly groomed for her job at the bank, I had to laugh and point out it was the last thing she needed!

“I still look forward to my visits here every single week. It really boosts me, and to be honest, it’s kept me going.”

I still look forward to my visits here every single week. It really boosts me, and to be honest, it’s kept me going. My doctor had suggested antidepressants, but I came here instead and it’s the best thing I ever did. Sitting around the kitchen table, you see people coming here who are going through treatment, or people like me who have been bereaved, and you’re going through it with them. You know just how they’re feeling.

I used to work in the building industry and I’d never really appreciated architects before!

Above: George at Maggie’s Edinburgh with Centre volunteer Bill Duff. Top: George and his wife Isobel.

But seeing the magic of the place, how beautiful it is, how it caters for everything, the layout, the colour scheme – it’s a sanctuary. The whole place just soothes.

“The people here, who’ve been hands-on, working at the coal face of cancer, they’ve seen the trauma, and they’ve created this wonderful place.”

I’ve recommended Maggie’s to plenty of people, who have come to me afterwards and told me what a comfort Maggie’s is to them. It requires a braver attitude for people to face up to life without their partners, but Maggie’s is completely unique. I could go on and on – the people here, who have been hands-on, working at the coal face of cancer, they’ve seen the trauma, and they’ve created this wonderful place.

I think the original Maggie would be happy to see what it’s become. From little acorns, mighty oaks grow. It’s certainly the case here.


George Dalgetty’s wife Isobel visited Maggie’s when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Four years on from her death, George still visits Maggie’s weekly, and has found an enormous amount of support at Maggie’s Edinburgh.

My storyMindfulness at Maggie’s

Photograph © Lesley Martin


Maggie’s is launching a new wellbeing scheme designed specifically for men with cancer, running in partnership with Rangers Charity Foundation. Making A Start will begin in April 2015, with Rangers’ Head of Sport Science, Jim Henry, leading the fitness sessions at the Ibrox Stadium alongside Rangers Foundation staff and Rangers Club players and coaches. Later sessions will be held at Maggie’s Gartnavel in Glasgow to explore the importance of physical fitness in reducing the risks of cancer recurrence.

The seven-week course is intended to look at the general wellbeing of the men who visit Maggie’s, from alternatives to risky health behaviours like drinking and smoking, through to nutrition on a budget. It will also focus on stress management, how improved confidence levels can increase general health when combined with appropriate exercise and sessions on overcoming self-limiting beliefs.

Gillian Hailstones, Maggie’s Scottish Operations Manager, explains, “This course is about more than just getting

Maggie’s news

Maggie’s partners with Rangers Charity Foundation

Maggie’s and The Royal Marsden have announced a new Maggie’s Centre at the world-leading cancer centre, The Royal Marsden, in Surrey. Currently treating around 50,000 patients a year across its three sites, this new Centre will offer increased support to those Sutton patients and their families.

Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden will be designed by London-based studio Ab Rogers Design, while the landscaping will be completed by world-renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf, in a site surrounded by mature trees and courtyard gardens.

New Centre announced at The Royal Marsden

men to eat more healthily, it is about building self-confidence to ensure they can make sustainable changes to their whole lives.” Professor Kate Hunt, associate director of the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University, is supporting the scheme in an advisory capacity.

In addition, the scheme aims to help men with cancer understand the benefits of visiting Maggie’s Centres, and to increase their awareness of the support available both at Maggie’s and within their local communities. Maggie’s will see this original pilot scheme being rolled out across all Centres in Scotland by the end of the year.

The Rangers Charity Foundation hopes to raise £25,000 for Maggie’s in memory of footballer Sandy Jardine who died in 2014, after a diagnosis of liver cancer. Connal Cochrane, Manager of the Rangers Foundation noted, “We hope this partnership will be a fitting tribute to Sandy, I am sure the Rangers fans, who have always been hugely supportive of the Foundation, will take this cause to their hearts and help a charity which supported one of their most distinguished sons.”

Sandy Jardine’s wife Shona said, “Maggie’s was a great help to Sandy when he was ill and I know he would be delighted to see the Rangers Charity Foundation supporting the charity in his memory. Hopefully his legacy will help others with cancer and I know the Rangers Family will support this project as they supported Sandy throughout his treatment.”

Maggie’s at the Royal Marsden

Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with The Royal Marsden, who have such an amazing track record in cancer treatment and care. Ab Rogers’ design will deliver the calm and uplifting space so vital to the support Maggie’s offers.”

Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, said: “We treat the whole person here – their physical, emotional and psychological needs. Working with Maggie’s will enable us to extend the level of non-clinical support in a beautiful environment.” The Centre is planned to open in early 2017.


Maggie’s has four new Centres breaking ground in 2015, with Forth Valley already underway, and The Christie in Manchester, Barts in London and Oldham to follow later this year.

The Forth Valley’s ground-breaking on16 March was attended by Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s, and Nina Barough, founder of Walk the Walk, the grant-making organisation which pledged the £3 million required to build the new Centre from funds raised by walkers of MoonWalk Scotland. At the event, Laura Lee commented, “It is wonderful to be in this beautiful, loch-side setting today to launch the construction of Maggie’s Forth Valley. We have been incredibly fortunate in having the support of Walk the Walk, who have previously donated towards Maggie’s Gartnavel, Lanarkshire and Highlands, and who have given so generously, as have many local people,

Breaking new ground in 2015

Maggie’s is delighted to announce renowned international photographer Mary McCartney as an Honorary Patron. Known for her portraits and candid reportage photography, Mary’s work captures the creative chemistry between herself and her subjects; discovering those rare moments of unguarded, emotionally charged intimacy that offersus a new insight to the subject. Having been a great supporter of Maggie’s, earlier this year Mary, the eldest daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney, opened an interim Centre, Maggie’s Merseyside at Clatterbridge, to enhance the cancer support to people in the area. In an interview with The Times to celebrate becoming an Honorary Patron, she described Maggie’s Centres as “really positive spaces. They’re light and bright, not austereat all, more like a family space.”

As an Honorary Patron, Mary will act as an ambassador for Maggie’s and will speak on behalf of the charity to raise awareness of the valuable support it provides for people with cancer. She said, “I’m delighted to support Maggie’s, which is a wonderful charity. I’m passionate about cancer support, particularly

Mary McCartney announced as Honorary Patron

including Forth Valley Giving and Camelon Community Centre, who have donated their time, money and effort to help fund the running of the Centre in its fi rst few months of opening.” Maggie’s Forth Valley has been designed by award-winning NORD Architecture, previously named Scottish Architect of the Year in 2007.

The new Maggie’s Centre at The Christie, Manchester, will have its own ground-breaking in April, at the special event ‘Framing Maggie’s at The Christie’, and will involve the positioning of the fi ve-metre-high timber frames of the building, as designed by Lord Norman Foster ofFoster + Partners.

June will see work begin on the new Maggie’s Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, a three-storey ‘urban townhouse’ full of open space and light, designed by Steven Holl.

On Wednesday 28 January, Maggie’s Newcastle was delighted to welcome the charity’s President on a visit. Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has been involved in the Centre since its earliest inception stages, and said, “I’ve come here to see the fi nished article and it’s wonderful and uplifting. Like every other Maggie’s Centre, it is a happy place.” Her Royal Highness met with Maggie’s staff and volunteers, as well as NHS colleagues from the Freeman Hospital, where the Centre is sited. She also enjoyed watching one of the Centre’s tai chi sessions, and unveiled a painting which had been donated by Northumbria University.

Maggie’s Newcastle has been developed by the architect Ted Cullinan, of Cullinan Studio, who explained to Her Royal Highness during her tour how he had chosen to create a space which featured strong architectural lines and angles as well

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall visits Maggie’s Newcastle

as bold masculine colours to specifi cally appeal to men and encourage them to visit the Centre. The Centre runs a core programme of support which includes a specially tailored prostate cancer course, and a weekly support group, Monday Morning for Men, which has grown greatly in popularity since it was founded two years ago. On the visit, HRH spent time talking with members of the Monday Morning group, and several other Centre visitors. She said, “The Centre brings everyone together. It’s the local community who get involved in raising all the money. I hope to have one of these in every major city.”

Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s said: “I’m honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to Maggie’s Newcastle. We’re incredibly grateful for Her Royal Highness’s continued support of Maggie’s and the difference it makes to those who visit and work in our Centres.”

Model of Maggie’s at The Christie

after experiencing cancer within my own family, and that’s why I fi rmly believe having somewhere like Maggie’s is so important. After seeing fi rst hand the fantastic work that goes on in Maggie’s Centres, I feel extremely proud to support the charity.”

Mary joins a list of other Maggie’s Honorary Patrons including Sarah Brown, Frank Gehry, Dame Zaha Hadid, Sir David Landale KCVO, Lord Rogers of Riverside, Jon Snow, Sam Taylor-Johnson OBE, Kirsty Wark and Janet Ellis.

Ground-breaking at Forth Valley


Fundraising news

On Tuesday 16 December, Maggie’s celebrated its annual Christmas Carol Concert, with the charity’s President, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, attending the event. To mark Maggie’s 18th anniversary, they were given the rare and wonderful opportunity to host the concert with an audience of 2,400 under the iconic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, with the magical evening opening as Her Royal Highness led a candle lighting and moment of refl ection.

This remarkable, one-off event enjoyed such varied and beautiful voices as singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, mezzo-soprano Laura Wright, tenor Toby Spence, the Manning Camerata Orchestra and mezzo-soprano Dame Ann Murray, as well as the St Paul’s Cathedral Consort. Festive readings were given by broadcaster and author Jeremy Paxman, actors Dominic West

Maggie’s Oxford has been celebrating a superstar cycling fundraiser: Christian Alvey, who in March 2011 was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer while still only 32. This January, he visited the new Oxford Centrefor the fi rst time and delivered to Maggie’sa cheque for £2,500, taking his total to an

Maggie’s supporters across the country have already begun fundraising for a new adventure: Maggie’s to Maggie’s, in which everyone is encouraged to travel to as many Maggie’s Centres as possible throughout the summer months. Fundraisers can go by any means available, from cycling, walking, or swimming, to train, car, or even horseback, in order to raise moneyfor people affected by cancer.

The route is entirely personal, offering infi nite possibilities – it might be a

Cycling forMaggie’s Oxford

and Simon Callow, actresses Gwendoline Christie and Cherie Lunghi and Honorary Patron, TV presenter and actress Janet Ellis.

After the concert, dinner was served in the Crypt’s atmospheric surroundings, situated directly below the Cathedral. Styled for the evening by international fashion designer Anna Valentine, this special anniversary dinner was prepared by Michelin starred Hélène Darroze from the Connaught in Mayfair.

The evening saw over £500,000 raised for Maggie’s, all of which will go towards growing the network of London Centres, to make the biggest difference possible to those people living with cancer. Maggie’s would like to thank everyone involved in the event, and all those who joined carol concerts across our Centres in the UK during the Christmas season.

St Paul’s Carol Concert

Maggie’s to Maggie’s

amazing £4,235, well beyond his original target of £3,500.

At the time of his diagnosis four years ago, Christian’s two daughters were still very young, and he described the news as “impossible to bear.” Subsequent surgery saw the removal of the tumour, followed by six months of chemotherapy, but it was found that the cancer had spread to hislungs. Christian then visited Maggie’s Oxford and discovered the care and support that helped him through those months, and to come to terms with his prognosis. Only a fortnight after his fi rst visit, two thoracotomies removed all the tumours, and he has now been clear of cancer since 2012.

A keen cyclist, Christian began looking for a challenge to raise money for Maggie’s Oxford, and decided on a bike journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. He explains on his JustGiving page, “I’m a long way from being in the clear and that hammers home the importance of making the most of my time, particularly with my two girls. I also want

Lisa Stephenson was diagnosed with myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow, in 2011, and visited Maggie’s Edinburgh for the fi rst time shortly after. Describing it as “like walking into

warm sunshine,” Lisa has since gone on to be an extraordinary supporter for Maggie’s Edinburgh, surpassing her original £50,000 goal to raise more than £500,000 through events and supporting other fundraisers’ challenges over the years.

Maggie’s is now supporting Lisa’s new challenge, the Buy a Brick campaign, which is hoping to raise £100,000 towards an extension to Maggie’s Edinburgh which

would enable more than 50 extra people to fi nd help and comfort at the Centre eachday. The campaign invites donors to pledgedirectly to the building costs by buying bricks of various colours, which are illustrated on Lisa’s Buy a Brick website and where personal messages from each donor can be displayed. Donors range from individuals through to companies and corporate donations, with a giving level available for everyone. As Lisa explains, “Maggie’s hopes to break ground as early as possible in 2015, but the timeline depends on the amount we can raise! I believewe can raise at least £100,000 through this initiative – and see it come to life in the physical building.”

To buy a brick visit:www.lisasbuyabrickformaggies.com

www.maggiescentres.org/maggiestomaggies

Lisa’s challenge for Maggie’s

meaningful journey, or just a particularly challenging one for the participant – and could be anything from a simple trip between two local Centres right up to an epic journey covering all eighteen. Potential routes include a beautiful coastal trek between Maggie’s Dundee and Maggie’s Aberdeen, a group cycle from Maggie’s West London to Maggie’s Highlands, or even a race against the clock to visit seven Centres within seven days.

However participants travel, wherever they go, the aim of the challenge is to be as creative and imaginative as possible in raising funds for Maggie’s Centres, all of which will be welcoming and supporting participants during their challenges.

If you would like to join this fantastic, unique adventure, contact your local Centre for more information and help.

Maggie’s Edinburgh

to ensure I make the best use of my current good health to give something back. Maggie’s have been a tremendous help to me on this journey so I would like to return that kindness by raising money through cycling.” He told Maggie’s that he is currently the healthiest he has ever been and is living every day to the full.

Monday 25 May Bupa London 10KThis 10K starts and fi nishes in leafy St James’s Park and takes runners on a clockwise route around the City of Westminster and the City of London, passing many of London’s famous sights including Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. www.maggiescentres.org/bupalondon

Saturday 13 June The Moonwalk ScotlandCelebrating its 10th year, the Moonwalk in Edinburgh has become an iconic event with walkers raising more than £18 million for people with cancer in Scotland. Join Maggie’s team as you walk the New, Half, Full or Over the Moon distances through the country’s capital city with Walk the Walk. www.maggiescentres.org/moonwalkscotland

Sunday 7 June National Cancer Survivors DayNational Cancer Survivors Day held annually on the fi rst Sunday of each June provides an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognise those who have supported them along the way. www.ncsd.org

Note for the diaryMaggie’s will be organising Culture Crawl events in many of our Centre’s cities across the country this September. Keep an eye on our website for details as they are confi rmed. www.maggiescentres.org/culturecrawl

Sunday 3 May The Garden of Cosmic Speculation Open Day Open for one day a year as part of the Scotland’s Gardens scheme, this is a rare opportunity to visit the stunning 30-acre sculpture garden at Portrack House in Holywood, created by landscape architect and co-founder of Maggie’s, Charles Jencks. This unique private garden is abundant with plants and sculptures in a setting which combines natural features and artifi cial symmetry, with lakes designed by Maggie herself. The garden is open 12–5pm, admission is £6.00 and 55% of proceeds go to Maggie’s. www.scotlandsgardens.org

Saturday 16 May The Spartan Race Join team Maggie’s and take part in one of the Spartan Races, the world’s largest obstacle race designed to push your limits and challenge your endurance. Each race strives to surprise you – there will be mud, fi re, water, walls, barbed wire and more, with preparation for the unknown a must. The Spartan Race Series takes place in locations all over the UK, with various distances.The fi rst event is in London in May.www.maggiescentres.org/spartan

Friday 17 – Sunday 19 April RHS Cardiff WeekendWelcoming spring in style at beautiful Bute Park in the heart of Cardiff City Centre, the showground will be fi lled with inspiring show gardens, practical gardening advice from Royal Horticultural Society experts and growers alike, a host of family activities (kids go free) and an abundance of perfect plants around the site. This year Maggie’s is displaying a feature which takes inspiration from an element present at the heart of every Maggie’s Centre; a kitchen table, with the garden designed by Sarah Price. Tickets for the show are now on sale. www.rhs.org.uk

Saturday 25 April Run Balmoral Run Balmoral is a festival of running; a chance for runners of all ages and abilities to take part in one of the best running events in the North East Scotland, which takes place in the beautiful Balmoral Estate. Ranging from junior races for primary school children to 5K, 10K and the15 mile Glacier Energy Trail Race, there is something for everyone! There’s even a duathlonfor those that want to add mountain biking to their challenge. www.maggiescentres.org/runbalmoral

Sunday 26 April Virgin Money London MarathonNow in its 37th year, the Virgin Money London Marathon continues to be one of the largest annual one day fundraising events in the world, having raised more than £716 million for good causes. Partnering with Virgin Money in 1995, the event has continued to grow in awareness and popularity. www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com

Monday 20 April Register for Culture Crawl Registration for Culture Crawl is now open! Maggie’s Culture Crawl is a 15 mile part night walk, part cultural adventure in London in partnership with Open House on Friday 18 September. Come with us as we head out into the night discovering cultural, architectural and artistic delights, whilst raising as much as we can to support people with cancer and their family and friends. www.maggiescentres.org/culturecrawl


Diary

Virgin Money London MarathonA few of the faces you might see on the day...

I am running for Maggie’s because just over a year ago one of my best friends passed away from adrenal cancer. She was diagnosed when she was 28 and fought bravely for 5 years. Maggie’s was a constant support to her and allowed her to live her life with a terminal diagnosis. She used to say that Maggie’s treated her as Jo, not a cancer patient, and the staff there became her friends. They gave her invaluable counselling and emotional support and also how to deal with the practical side of cancer such as the NHS and nutritional support. Jo never let the cancer defi ne her and was always happy and remained positive. I am running in her memory and for Maggie’s as I know that she valued them so highly. www.justgiving.com/Amy-Herbert1

Amy Moses

London will be my 55th Marathon (yes 55!). I am super excited, Clara Weatherall who is the Chair of the Keswick Foundation where I am a board member kindly helped connect me to Maggie’sto run. Maggie’s Centre in Hong Kong, designed by Frank Gehry, is a marvellous tranquil spot –quite the opposite of a marathon and I am happy be running on Team Maggie’s. My favourite marathons to date: The Great Wall, Brooklyn, China Coast, Swiss Alpine, and of course, Boston! But then again, I have never run London yet! www.justgiving.com/mingthemerciless

Ming Chen

I picked Maggie’s as it’s a charity close to my family who have gone through the troubles that suffering from cancer brings. I have run shorter distances in the past and raised sponsorship for Maggie’s, who are there to offer great services and support. I picked the London Marathon as it’s been part of my bucket list for a few years now and I had planned to do the 2014 one, but got injured 10 weeks before and lost 6 weeks training so had to pull out. Instead I supported my wife while she did it, and whilst watching I saw others doing the route with added weight in back packs and I decided that I would do it in 2015 with a pack weighing 56lbs (4 stones) on my back.Training is going great and is split between my road work 3 times a week with supporting sessions coming from strength work at my gym DMC Fitness in Glasgow. I am proud to be part of the Maggie’s team and I look forward to the physical and mental challenges ahead of me. uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DavieMcConnachie

Through working for Maggie’s I have had the chance to see fi rst-hand the support we offer and how people benefi t from our Centres, and I decided to run the marathon to help contribute to our fundraising. I didn’t know about Maggie’s in the past when friends and family were affected by cancer, so it would be great to help raise awareness of our Centres. Running the London Marathon will be a huge personal challenge. Eventually I would like to complete all the major European marathons, although London will undoubtedly be the biggest and the best! After months of hard training I’m looking forward to being rewarded by the iconic sights of the cityand being cheered on by friends, family and the Maggie’s team. www.justgiving.com/George-Parker2015

Davie McConnachie

Georgina Parker

For details visit: www.maggiescentres.org/londonmarathon


Books and moreMaggie’s has a carefully selected library list compiled from recommendations by members of staff which reflect different aspects of our programme of support.

Book review

Handpicked recommendations for mindfulness and exercise

Architecture of Hope By Charles Jencks

Here Sunand Prasad, co-founder of Penoyre & Prasad Architects and President of the RIBA from 2007–2009, reviews the new edition of The Architecture of Hope by co-founder of Maggie’s Charles Jencks. (Released on Wednesday 25 February).

Published by Francis Lincoln Limited £20 paperback (with all proceeds donated to Maggie’s).

www.maggiescentres.org/architectureofhope

Mindfulness is a mind-body approach to well-being that can help you change the way you think about experiences and reduce stress and anxiety.

There is also increasing evidence showing the benefits of exercise, not just for fatigue and physical fitness but also in building people’s confidence to take on the challenges during cancer treatment and afterwards.

Robyn Volkers, Maggie’s Online Centre Head recommends a selection of exercise and mindfulness books and apps to help you learn more.

365 Days of Mindfulness By Yvette Jane, £5.99

Create a moment of mindfulness every day with this book of inspirational quotations.

Active Against Cancer By Nancy S Brennan, £8.25

A guide to improving your cancer recovery with exercise.

Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery By Michael P. Speca & Linda E. Carlson, £15.99

A step-by-step MBSR approach to help you cope with treatment and reclaim your life.

Wherever You Go, There You Are By Jon Kabat-Zinn, £13.99

A book on mindfulness meditation for everyday life.

Headspace App By Andy Puddicombe, £7.95 a month

Headspace is meditation made simple. Learn online in just 10 minutes a day.

Hope with ReasonThis updated edition of the book that first appeared five years ago tells an engrossing and richly illustrated story of many strands tracking back and forth across time. At the core is Maggie Keswick and Charles Jencks’s indefatigable assault on her breast cancer, during which, amongst other things, they assembled in that pre-internet age, a large library of cancer-related literature. So it is that the library, along with the kitchen is now one of the core elements of every Maggie’s Centre – mutual support, and information as twin engines of hope held in an architectural frame.

It is difficult to describe just how the architecture not only accommodates the

Mindfulness for Health By Vidyamala Burch & Danny Penman, £13.99

A practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing.

Share your thoughts on the Architecture of Hope: #Maggiesbooks

www.maggiescentres.org/librarylist

people and the things, but itself amplifies and transmits hope. Jencks, one of our greatest explainers of architecture, has a profound belief in the power of metaphor, verging on the mystical but anchored to rationalism with a long chain. Anyone familiar with Maggie’s will find resonance in his description of how metaphors of time, nature, protection, are made concrete in the architecture, and how combinations of familiar and enigmatic forms and spaces create feelings in us that lift us beyond immediate preoccupations, better to treat ourselves and others.

Another strand starts some millennia ago with Edwin Heathcote’s erudite survey of the entire history of the relationship of architecture and western medicine. Here is plenty of inspiring evidence for what I have long believed: that the impersonality of hospitals and health centres of the recent past is best explained as the temporary loss of an idea that runs throughout human civilisation: that the environment has a profound role in healing, in the recovery of health and well-being. A functionalist technocratic view that saw the unwell human body as parts and systems to be repaired has yielded dazzling results, but now we are realising that by restoring attention also to the mind and the soul we stand to make the greatest advances in restoring health.

Maggie’s Centres at their best show a seamless blend of art, of architecture and landscape. The incorporation of art in health building has now become normative,

but what kind of art? Renowned art critic Richard Cork, championing the role of art supported by wonderful historical examples, argues for an art unafraid to tackle suffering and death thereby to transcend them. In her thoughtful essay Angie Butterfield analyses the powerful role of gardens and landscape in healing. The second half of the book is given over to excellent drawings and photographs of every completed and planned Maggie’s accompanied by a succinct and clear description.

At the centre of all the Maggie’s Centres is a community of people. In amongst the aesthetic and spiritual concern of the book, Laura Lee, Maggie’s Chief Executive, who has been there on the whole journey as a specialist cancer nurse, reminds us of what goes on in the Centres, why, and with what effect; from the large scale down to smallest detail like the smell of the cleaning fluids. She was initially sceptical about the architecture, and so her understated testimony is especially powerful. She saw the impact of the architecture on people and how the buildings welcomed them and enabled them to associate freely. Her essay reminded me that this is an architecture that manifestly speaks of ‘care’ as well as hope. The generous embrace of the building expressing care for the human being at the centre, in the Centre.


On a sunny September day in 2007, seventeen people came together at Maggie’s Fife – then our newest Centre – to be photographed by the artist and Maggie’s Honorary Patron Sam Taylor-Johnson. Each of these people, including the photographer, had a story to share: some were living with cancer, others had completed their treatment, some were caring for family or a friend, others had lost a loved one. Sam’s aim was to create a series of portraits that captured something of their experience.

At the age of 29, following the birth of her daughter, Sam Taylor-Johnson was diagnosed with cancer of the colon; three years later she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Faced with such trauma at so young an age, her art inevitably acted as a channel and a response to her cancer. One such piece produced between 2002–4, the ‘Crying Men’ series, she later described in an interview with the Guardian in 2009 as an outlet for the tears she hadn’t been able to shed during her illness: “I think that’s why I made 28 men cry instead. I always say that my work is ahead of me three steps. With hindsight, I was sitting there with people who’d cry my tears for me. I suppose I didn’t cry in all the cancer crap stuff because I felt I couldn’t lose the battle, and part of the battle was holding myself together.”

When she came to Maggie’s Fife, her challenge was again to use her art as a channel – to capture the intimacy, strength, hope and sadness of the people who had for one reason or another been visitors to Maggie’s Centres across Scotland. There is Norrie, a shaft of sunlight falling on him like a blessing; Sheila held in the gaze of her husband beside her as she looks straight at the camera with a compelling mixture of strength and warmth, her face just about to smile; and Richard Smith who challenges the onlooker: ‘Yes?’ he seems to say ‘who did you expect when you heard the word cancer?’

The portraits became the first external collection ever to be hung at 10 Downing Street, thanks to Maggie’s Honorary Patron

Great art has the power to change the way we see things; when artist and director Sam Taylor-Johnson created a series of portraits for Maggie’s, she transformed patients into people. Katy Mahood considers why, years on, these images still challenge and inspire.

Our art

#maggiesart

Top: Jim Brown with his portrait.

Above clockwise from left: Sheila, Norrie and Richard Smith

Sarah Brown. Norrie and Sheila both died a few years ago and that knowledge lends an even greater poignancy to these pictures, and yet there their images still inspire a warmth and humanness that leaves you with a real sense of hope. They are the product of a young woman who sees life and vitality shine out of the challenges of illness, while at the same time showing how indiscriminant its effects are to people from all walks of life.

“When she came to Maggie’s Fife, her challenge was again to use her art as a channel – to capture the intimacy, strength, hope and sadness of the people who had for one reason or another been visitors to Maggie’s Centres across Scotland.”

Eight years on the series is now displayed in Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, just a short walk from the Maggie’s Centre where it all began, and the stories of each of the subjects have unwound in their own direction. Inevitably there has been sadness and loss, but there has also been joy and celebration: new families, new hope. Caught for a moment in the September sunshine, these are but fleeting glimpses of people helped by Maggie’s and the experiences that brought them there. And while their stories have moved on since the pictures were taken, what remains regardless, is the power of these images to show that cancer is something that happens to you, not who you are.


Something good to eat

Tom Kitchin, Scotland’s youngest Michelin starred chef and proprietor of The Kitchin in Edinburgh, shares his delicious asparagus with pearl barley risotto to celebrate the arrival of Spring.

Asparagus served with pearl barley risottoEvery year at this time, without fail, I can’t help but feel a little thrill at the thought of the arrival of those bright, fresh, vibrant green stalks. The season for asparagus in this country is very short – only about six weeks – so I always make the most of it, preparing it in many different ways and marrying it with other seasonal delights. The secret of tasty asparagus is to keep cooking to a minimum. That way, you can really taste and enjoy the wonderful, natural, earthy fl avours. I hope you enjoy trying out this recipe and the amazing spring fl avours that asparagus invariably brings to any meal!

IngredientsRisotto 300g pearl barley – soak in cold water for1 hour before cooking

½ onion roughly chopped

100ml white wine

100g grated parmesan cheese

2x knob of butter

400ml chicken stock

4 rashers bacon – cooked until crispy

Oil

Asparagus purée300g asparagus

150ml chicken stock

½ onion, peeled and thinly sliced

Olive oil

MethodFor the asparagus purée1 First fi nely chop the asparagus. Heat a

heavy-based pan over a medium-low heat and add a drizzle of olive oil.

2 Add the onion and sweat gently for 2–3 minutes before increasing the heat and adding the chopped asparagus with some seasoning, allowing this to sweat for 1–2 minutes.

3 Pour on the chicken stock and simmer for 3–4 minutes until the asparagus is cooked through.

4 Tip into a blender and blitz to a smooth purée. Then transfer the purée into a bowl and cool quickly over a bowl of iced water to preserve the vibrant colour, (unless you are serving this straight away).

For the risotto1 First heat a heavy bottom pan and

add the oil and a knob of butter to this. Allow the butter to melt and then add the roughly chopped onion, allowing it to sweat for 1–2 minutes before adding the pearl barley and seasoning with salt. Allow this to sweat further for a minute or so.

2 Gradually add the white wine allowing this to simmer until the wine has reduced and the risotto is dry, before covering with the majority of the chicken stock (hold a little back for later in the recipe) and cook for 17 minutes.

3 As the risotto reduces, slowly add the last of the chicken stock and grated parmesan to the pan.

4 Check the seasoning, and once cooked remove from the heat and gently stir in the asparagus purée and a knob of butter.

5 Taste and serve with cooked asparagus and crispy bacon.


Puzzles

By Chris Maslanka

Clues Across1 State of single party (12)

9 Assume one is in post (5)

10 Girls note Kentish Town? (9)

11 It’s “totalitarian” (See above!) (3, 6)

12 Viking from the North or South-East (5)

13 Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness (6)

15 View yard by tearing up this (8)

18 Stampede someone into making tracks in a permanent way (8)

19 Nothing in dread is reformed – or worshipped (6)

22 Belief at war conceals religious ruling (5)

24 Does he dig rock and study the Stones? (9)

26 Orchestra gives birth to this dray animal (9)

27 Ring article about sodium (5)

28 Declaration about one per cent per annum (12)

Number Conundrums1 How many times does the big hand

overtake the little hand between 12:02 and 1:02?

2 There are bicycles and tricycles in the showroom of Wheeler’s Bicycle Shop, and in that number there are more trikes than bikes. If I told you the total number of wheels these bikes and trikes have, you’d be able to determine exactly how many of each there are. What is the greatest number of these wheeled vehicles there could be?

3 If 3 X COD = ODD what is COD? (Each letter stands consistently for the same digit throughout; O doesn’t necessarily represent zero!)

4 The average of the numbers a and b is a.b. What are a and b?

5 There are 20 olives in a bowl. You take it in turns to take either 2 olives or 1 olive. The one who eats the last olive washes the bowl. You are very lazy and competitive and really don’t fancy getting up to wash that bowl. You have the fi rst go. Should you take one olive, or two, on your fi rst go?

Ask Me Another1 What’s the capital of Belarus?

2 What was the name of the Polish fi lm that won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in this year’s Oscars?

3 How many animals are there in the Chinese Zodiac?

4 What are the ingredients of a martini?

5 Peter Piot was part of the team that discovered what in 1976?

6 What are the colours of theUkrainian fl ag?

7 Who became President of the European Union on December 1st, 2014?

8 Who, or what, is Vint Cerf?

9 How many moons does Mars have?

10 Which is the only element, an atom of which hasn’t a neutron in its nucleus?

11 Who defeated Andy Murray in the fi nal of the Australian Open in January 2015?

12 What do you call a cow that crops the grass?

Word Play 1 Rearrange the letters of ADMONITION

to make another word.

2 Mine’s a double.

Insert the two drinks that make the two words mean broadly the same:****LY*****

3 Which 4-letter games are anagrams of each other? One is played on a fi eld,the other on a special table.

4 EnigmaA tree found in the wood am I,A wood found in the tree.And also what remains at lastIf you set fi re to me.

5 Which two countries have the same name apart from their last letters?

6 Each asterisk represents a missing letter:UND***UNDWhat is the only word it could be?

Clues Down1 Pudding made from cassava (7)

2 Make sense of a set tea (5)

3 Delayed arrival makes mole react (9)

4 Two cats in a drum (3-3)

5 Control certainly and take out a policy again! (8)

6 Nora’s convicted for setting fi res (5)

7 “Neither a — nor a lender be…” was Polonius’s advice (8)

8 Stringy plant makes Lee cry (6)

14 Cheats tornadoes (8)

16 Now not-so-modern pastime involving aged movie (5, 4)

17 Marsupial — when it’s tired you might say it’s out of bounds! (8)

18 Umpire and top player renew façade (6)

20 Red tact over slander (7)

21 Way navy is up-to-date (6)

23 Drained of colour like barnyard fowl (6)

25 “Siren” exactly describes her! (5)

Maggie’s Matters Editor Danielle Hill Design Havas Worldwide London Cover photography Philip Durrant Layout Alice Snape Cover layout Malcom Clarke Printing GrangeWe welcome any feedback or queries: [email protected]. To receive a digital edition, please email: [email protected].

If you have any queries regarding these puzzles, contact Chris Maslanka:[email protected]

For solutions visit: www.maggiescentres.org/puzzleanswers

Notes

-

Puzzles by

Chris Maslanka

Quick Crossword 1_2_3_4_5_6_=== _=_=_=_=_=_=7=8 9____=0________ _=_=_=_=_=_=_=_a________=b____ _===_=_=_===_=_ c_d___=e__f____ ==_=_=g=_=_=_== h_______=i____j _=_===_=k=_===_ l___m=n_____o___=_=_=_=_=_=_=_ p________=q____ _=_=_=_=_=_=_=_===r___________

Create your own adventure

Raise funds for people affected by cancer by travelling between two or more of Maggie’s beautiful Centres.

Your fundraising adventure – however big, however wild –will help us to support people with cancer and their familyand friends.

There are infi nite possibilities, so speak to a CentreFundraiser at your nearest Maggie’s Centre formore information.

www.maggiescentres.org/maggiestomaggies

Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust (Maggie’s) is a registered charity, No. SC024414

Documents

Maggie's Matters spring edition 2015