The breast prosthesis service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, along with Maggie’s Aberdeen, are feeling the benefit as family and friends raise funds in thanks for the care given to one north-east woman. 

Julie Cobban from Longside was told she had breast cancer in November 2020. She says: “At that time the world was navigating its way through the pandemic…little did I know there was a much bigger battle ahead for me! I had a mastectomy in January 2021 and chemotherapy started in April of that year. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to cope with and was complicated further because of recurring blood clots, however with the support of my fantastic family and my amazing friends I got through it.” 

Julie, her husband Mark, and their friends and family, were so appreciative of the care they received throughout Julie’s illness that they wanted to give something back. In June of this year Mark and his friends Kevin Urquhart, Brian Leslie and Paul Finnie saddled up to cycle the NC500, with Jason Evans alongside them for vital team support. Five days, 512 miles, and more hills than they could care to count, and the challenge was complete! 

Julie added: “We had set a fundraising target of £1000; but by the end, thanks to the amazing generosity of friends and family, we had smashed that with a total of £5,500. I really couldn’t believe it!” 

The money raised is being split equally between the prosthesis department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Maggie’s Aberdeen. 

Elaine Breen is the prosthesis nurse adviser at ARI. She said: “The fitting of a breast prosthesis is a crucial stage in the recovery process following breast surgery, at this fitting it is vital patients have a supportive well-fitting bra to support the breast form. Julie's donation to our department will be used to help them buy a bra of their choice within the range of bras available through catalogues given at their first appointment. We are so grateful to Julie, Mark and all who supported them for this donation, and it will benefit lots of our new patients and support them as they travel through their breast cancer journey.” 

Vera Schroeter, Centre Head at Maggie’s Aberdeen, said: “Maggie’s relies mainly on voluntary donations from individuals and the local community to enable our professional team to be able to provide specialist cancer support, psychological support and benefits advice for everyone who needs it. We really appreciate the huge cycling challenge which Mark and his friends took on. The funds they have already raised for the centre will help many more people in need.” 

Julie said: “I am so grateful to everyone who donated. They will make a difference to people they have never met, going through the toughest of times, and that’s a priceless gift.” 

About Maggie’s

• Maggie’s has more than 25 years of experience providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK.
  
  
• Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, the centres are warm and welcoming spaces, and run by expert staff who help people live well with cancer.
  
  
• In 2022 we had nearly 300,000 visits* to our centres, 67,000 were new people with cancer or new carers of someone with cancer.
  
  
• The first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996. Maggie's now has 24 centres in the UK and a growing international network.
  
  
• The majority of Maggie’s funding is from voluntary donations.
  
  
• Maggie’s President is Her Majesty, The Queen.
  
  
• “Every cancer hospital needs a Maggie’s” - Endorsed by 24 CEOs of NHS Hospital Trusts where there is a Maggie’s
  
  
• Maggie's Chief Executive, Laura Lee was awarded a Damehood in 2019 for her services to people with cancer.
  
  
• For more information visit maggies.org

*visits refers to support facilitated by our programme staff and includes face to face; on the phone and online