Maggie’s South West Wales, is part of the Joy of Living campaign, and is located at Singleton Hospital, Swansea.

Currently running an interim service in temporary accommodation led by Debbie Horrigan, a highly experienced cancer nurse specialist, they seek to raise £3m to build a new centre which will open in 2011. Some 20,000 people are living with cancer in the region, with 3,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The South West Wales Cancer Centre will be a place for everyone affected by cancer in the entire region, a population in excess of 900,000.

Chairman Tony with team members and support vehicle

To support Maggie’s, fourteen local men, many from Swansea’s business community, have set off on tough cycling challenge. “Rome to Home” organised by Richard Smith, owner of Action Bikes, and Mike Evans, owner of A&M Installations, and which will see the riders cycle 1,300 miles from Rome back home to Swansea in just 10 days. The riders will fly to Rome on Wednesday September 23 and return to a welcome party in
Morgans Hotel on Friday October 2. They hope to raise more than £55,000 for Maggie’s through the ‘Rome to Home’ challenge. Each rider has personally raised at least £3,500 to participate. The 1,300 mile trip back from Rome will be the longest and toughest challenge they have attempted. It will mean completing 130 miles per day.

Cheque being presented by Chairman Tony Currell

Chairman Tony was pleased to offer support from Swansea Round Table and presented a cheque for £500 to Maggie’s fundraiser Vicki Jones before the Monday September 21 breakfast departure of the Swansea Audi supplied support car driven by Simon Parfit. Vicki says the charity is extremely grateful for the efforts of the cyclists. “These guys will make such a difference to our appeal,” she says. “There are also many other people supporting this effort we owe thanks to. They will help us build a new centre for Swansea, as well as keep it running in the future.”