HRH The Duchess of Cornwall opens Maggie's Cardiff

Our President, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, alongside Vaughan Gething the Health Minister for Wales, officially opened our new Maggie’s cancer support centre, in the grounds of Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff on Thursday 4 July 2019.

The second Maggie’s to open in Wales, the centre will bring our free cancer support to the people of Cardiff and South East Wales.

Maggie’s Cardiff at The Chris McGuigan Building, has been designed by RIBA award-winning architects Dow Jones with complementary landscape design by Cleve West.

It's been developed to enhance the cancer care and support on offer at Velindre Cancer Centre and hospitals throughout south east Wales and will work alongside our centre in Swansea in supporting people across the whole of south Wales. 

Every year, 18,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales, facing tough questions, exhausting treatment and difficult emotions that can range from anxiety to loneliness and isolation. These challenges affect not only those with cancer, but their family and friends, too.  

Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff sees around 5,000 new diagnoses a year, with a further 50,000 new outpatient appointments from people living with or after cancer within the South Wales cancer network. 

The largest cancer centre in the country, it provides specialist cancer services to over 1.5 million people in Cardiff, Newport and beyond. Once established, Maggie’s at the Chris McGuigan building is expected to receive up to 20,000 visits a year.

Maggie’s Cardiff is our 24th completed centre across the UK and internationally. 

It will provide a full programme of support, including psychological support, benefits advice, nutrition workshops, relaxation and stress management, as well as gentle exercise classes.  

Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, attending the event said:

“I am very pleased to see a second Maggie’s centre open its door in Wales.

Maggie’s does great work in providing those with cancer, and their families and friends, with emotional and wellbeing support that complements their NHS treatment.

I know that this centre is going to assist a very great many people in Cardiff and South East Wales who are living with cancer."

Laura Lee, Maggie’s Chief Executive said:

“We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to the opening of Maggie’s at the Chris McGuigan building. 

We are incredibly grateful to Her Royal Highness’s further continued support of Maggie’s and the difference it makes to those who visit and work in our centres.

Having seen the impact that Maggie’s Swansea has made already in Wales, it is wonderful that we will now be able to offer our programme of support to the people of Cardiff and the surrounding areas.

It has been incredible to watch the centre come to life and for that I would like to thank Dow Jones and Cleve West for their designs, as well as the staff who have helped make this centre a reality.

We have gifted the naming rights to Maria McGuigan Small whose donation was instrumental in bringing the centre to Cardiff and has named the building after her late husband Prof Chris McGuigan.

Special thanks must also go to the Welsh Government whose grant helped to build the centre. 

We were also thankful to receive generous gifts from HSBC, The Moondance Foundation, The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust, The Myristica Trust, Rotarty Club of Cardiff, The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation and Remission Possible, in memory of Emily Clark.”