Turf cutting held North Wales’ first Maggie’s Cancer Support Centre

A new cancer support centre for patients and their families across North Wales has broken ground.

The Maggie’s centre – which is completely commissioned, designed and funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation – is being built in the grounds of Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.

It will provide free practical, psychological and emotional support for people with cancer, as well as their family and friends, from across the whole region – including Wrexham and Bangor.

The building is set to open by the end of 2025.

Every year North Wales sees 4800 people newly diagnosed with cancer every.

Samantha Price, 31, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She is from Flintshire but is supported by Maggie’s, Wirral.

“I first heard about Maggie’s when my breast care nurse mentioned it to me after my mastectomy, because I was struggling a lot with everything that was happening to me,” explained Samantha.

“I went along to Maggie’s, Wirral as that was the closest centre to me, I sat with one of the cancer support specialists and I instantly felt comfortable and just poured my heart out. I felt a sense of relief getting my feelings and emotions out.

“I have been going back ever since and met some great people there. At Maggie’s you are able to be yourself with no judgment and feel less alone.

“Having Maggie’s in North Wales is going to be so beneficial to so many people, especially for people who don’t have the means to travel to another Maggie’s centre.”

Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive at Maggie’s said: “We are delighted to have broken ground for our centre in North Wales.

“Without the Steve Morgan Foundation’s incredibly generous support in commissioning, designing, building and funding we wouldn’t have been able to bring Maggie’s to North Wales and for that I am so grateful.

“The Steve Morgan Foundation has committed to building three new Maggie’s centres – including the one in North Wales – which is a truly phenomenal act of philanthropy.

“I am greatly looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Steve Morgan Foundation, and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to ensure the people of North Wales have the support which has already been making such a difference to people’s lives in other parts of Wales for 13 years.”

The Steve Morgan Foundation has provided £4million to build the centre in North Wales and has already commissioned, designed, built and funded Maggie’s, Wirral which officially opened in the grounds of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral in September 2021.

In 2023 the centre provided more than 17,500 support sessions to groups or individuals living with cancer.

A third Maggie’s centre in Liverpool – to be built within the grounds of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital next to the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool – is also in the development stages thanks to the Steve Morgan Foundation.

Steve Morgan, Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be helping Maggie’s bring its vital cancer support to the people of North Wales, ensuring they will have the warm, welcoming and free expert support of a Maggie’s centre right on their doorstep.

“Our collaboration with Maggie’s is one of the strongest examples of our philosophy of ‘disruptive philanthropy’.

“It highlights the Foundation’s ability to ‘give’ well, by harnessing our expertise, practical support and commercial experience to maximise the impact of our financial support.”

Glan Clwyd Hospital is managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and is home of the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre.

Carol Shillabeer, CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “I am delighted Maggie’s, with the generous help of the Steve Morgan Foundation, has chosen North Wales as the next destination for its network of support centres.

“We are all aware of the work the charity does to support those with cancer, those who have had cancer, their families and friends.

“I am sure this will be a well-used and valued addition which will complement other charity work which takes place, as well as the North Wales Cancer Centre here at Glan Clwyd Hospital. It will provide another layer of support for people across the whole of our region.

Maggie’s, North Wales, expected to open in 2025, will be the third Maggie’s in Wales, with Maggie’s, Swansea opening in 2011 and Maggie’s, Cardiff opening in 2019. These two centres supported people with cancer, as well as family and friends, more than 19,000 times in 2023.

Maggie’s provides cancer care and support in bright and welcoming centres across the UK, with 28 years of experience. At Maggie’s you’ll find expert cancer care and support for everyone with cancer, and their friends and families.

Maggie’s support is always free and you don’t need an appointment or a referral.

In the meantime, people in North Wales can still benefit from Maggie’s support by using the centre in the Wirral,  next to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. At home – over the phone or email. You can request a call back here.

People can also join online courses and workshops run by our other centres across the UK. Find out more here.

Pictured left to right:  Sian Hughes Jones, Head of Nursing Cancer Services, Carol Shillabeer, BCUHB CEO Steve Morgan, Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation, Samantha Price, Maggie’s centre visitor and Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s (Picture credit: Tommy Wong)