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BG Group donates £300,000 to Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal

BG Group has become the lead donor to the Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal, committing £300,000 to the cancer relief charity founded by golfer Colin Montgomerie.

The funds will go towards an ambitious campaign to raise £3 million for a Maggie's Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The centre will provide relief care for families across north-east Scotland fighting cancer.

BG Group, a global gas major, presented the donation to Colin, the winning 2010 European Ryder Cup captain, at its stand at SPE Offshore Europe 2011 in Aberdeen today (September 7).

Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal is an ambitious fundraising campaign to bring a Maggie's Centre to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for families affected by cancer across north east Scotland.

BG Group Vice President of UK Upstream, Neil McCulloch, said: “The community has taken Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal to heart and we are delighted to support the appeal both through our initial donation and by forming a long-term partnership with Maggie’s Centre.

“In the coming months, we will be working hard to promote the centre and its great work. We hope to encourage other businesses in the region to join the fundraising campaign, starting with our own team of 500 based in Aberdeen and across our North Sea platforms.”

Colin said: “This marks a major milestone in the campaign and is the largest donation we have received. We are absolutely delighted to benefit from such incredibly generous support from BG Group. I am truly grateful to everyone who has committed to backing our campaign. We are moving ever closer to realising our vision of creating a Maggie’s Centre in Aberdeen, and giving people with cancer the support they need from the centre’s unique, caring environment.”

The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation charity was created in memory of Colin’s mother who died from lung cancer. Colin recognised a gap in the emotional and practical support available for his family during this difficult time. He set out to establish a legacy in his mother’s name, which would help address this need.

When NHS Grampian formally invited Maggie’s to establish a Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, The Foundation realised a natural partner had been found with Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and together they launched Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal in June 2010, with the aim of raising £3 million to build a Maggie’s Centre in the Granite City.

“The campaign has been hugely successful with over £1 million raised so far,” Colin said. “The challenge for the charity committee is to maintain momentum to ensure the £3 million target is reached as early as possible in 2012, allowing us to start construction. I look forward to an opening in early 2013.”

BG Group Vice President of UK Upstream Neil McCulloch said: “The community has taken Monty’s Maggie’s Appeal to heart and we are delighted to support the appeal both through our initial donation and by forming a long-term partnership with Maggie’s Centre.

“In the coming months, we will be working hard to promote the centre and its great work. We hope to encourage other businesses in the region to join the fundraising campaign, starting with our own team of 600 based in Aberdeen and across our North Sea platforms.”

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