Every year the proceeds from the Charity Gala Preview are donated to horticultural causes. We are pleased to announce that for 2009 the supporting charities will be the Royal Horticultural Society and Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.
The Royal Horticultural Society
The RHS is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting gardening.
The proceeds from the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Charity Gala Preview help us to bring the personal and social benefits of gardens and gardening to a diverse audience of all ages. Our activities range from providing advice and inspiration through to running education programmes and conducting research into plants and environmental issues affecting gardeners.
The RHS depends on the support and generosity of others to make a difference. Our charitable work is funded through subscriptions from our 365,000 members, supplemented by donations, sponsorship and income from our garden operations, flower shows, shops and plant centres.
Our goal is to help people share a passion for plants, to encourage excellence in horticulture in private and public spaces, to help create healthy, sustainable communities and support long-term environmental improvements.
Visit the RHS website
www.rhs.org.uk
Become an RHS member
www.rhs.org.uk/
membership
Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres
Maggie’s Centres (charity number SC024414) provide advice and support to people living with cancer and their families and friends. The support programme is free, open to anyone affected by cancer and includes benefits advice, relaxation and stress management techniques, nutrition advice, complementary therapies and a drop-in advice service.
Maggie’s has six Centres in Scotland and has recently opened its first London Centre in the grounds of Charing Cross Hospital. The London Centre was designed by Lord Richard Rogers and is based on an embrace; an arm, or enclosure that gradually envelopes visitors as they move towards the kitchen at the heart of the building. Dan Pearson designed the gardens, which are a fundamental component of any Maggie’s Centre, but particularly important in Maggie’s London given the relatively harsh physical nature of the surrounding urban environment.
Since its opening at the end of April 2008, Maggie’s London has seen, on average, 55 people per day seeking advice and support. This highlights the need for the service that Maggie’s provides.
“Maggie’s for me, has meant taking some control back. Being able to do something instead of being done to. It’s helped me break the experience down into manageable pieces, each enough to deal with on its own.” Elaine Davidson, a Maggie’s visitor.
Maggie’s are delighted to be the supporting charity of the 2009 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Charity Gala Preview and will be putting its share of the money raised towards our Stress and Relaxation Courses, which will incorporate the use of Maggie’s Centre garden.
“This garden will allow people to be themselves and have their own space without having to speak to anyone, and sometimes that’s more valuable than any medicine. One can take courage from being in a good place, breathing in courage and breathing out fear”. Cath Knox, a Maggie’s visitor who recently passed away.
These courses introduce people to some of the relaxation and stress management techniques that research has shown can help people affected by cancer, including controlling anxious thinking, meditation, visualisation and ‘quick’ or emergency relaxation.
“By stimulating all the senses and providing a connection to nature in an urban environment, Maggie’s London will put all visitors in touch with this healing potential.” Dan Pearson.
Maggie’s London needs to raise £250,000 each year to run the centre. The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Charity Gala Preview Evening will help immensely in reaching this target for 2009.
Contact Maggie’s on
020 7386 1753 or
visit the website
