China-based Wood chairman moved to support north-east cancer charity Maggie’s Aberdeen with £10,000 donation

A NORTH-EAST cancer charity has been given a mammoth £10,000 donation – from a China-based company whose chairman visited its centre two years ago.

Maggie’s Aberdeen received the generous gift from George Zhang, a joint venture partner of global engineering and consulting company Wood.

This follows his donation last year of 10,000 PPE items to NHS Grampian frontline health staff which were distributed by Maggie’s Aberdeen.

The charity's head of fundraising, Richard Stewart, said: "The fantastic donation has come following a visit to the centre by George Zhang, chairman of Wood in China, with Wood colleagues in 2019.

"It’s wonderful to think that someone from the other side of the world was so moved by the work we do that they continue to support us from afar today. It is an example of the amazing impression visiting Maggie’s can leave on people.

"Although we have mostly been seeing people virtually during lockdown, we look forward to welcoming many more visitors and volunteers back to the centre once the remaining restrictions are lifted so they can see that for themselves."

George's gift helps make up for lost income from cancelled fundraising events. The money will be used to fund the daily running costs of the centre and its expert cancer care services.

Built in the grounds of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Maggie’s Aberdeen has qualified professionals on hand to offer a programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

Throughout the pandemic, the charity has continued to provide support for friends and family, as well as bereavement support groups, to help the wider network of people that cancer impacts.

Wood's chief operating officer, Dave Stewart, added: "When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK last year, our joint venture partner wanted to help in any way they could, hence the donation of the 10,000 items of PPE.

"That donation was generous enough, but for him to go even further and give Maggie’s Aberdeen such wonderful financial support a year later is testament to the support everyone at the centre provides to people across the north-east – and it clearly leaves a positive impression on people, regardless of where they are from or whether they have used the much-needed services on offer."

To find out more about Maggie’s Aberdeen call 01224 645928 or email aberdeen@maggies.org.

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