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CLAN launches plans to mark 30th Anniversary

North-east charity CLAN Cancer Support has paid tribute to its army of volunteers and supporters as the organisation launches a programme of events to mark its 30th anniversary. CLAN was founded in 1983 by a group of passionate committee members who were determined to improve services across the region. Now it can call upon the services of 300 volunteers, employs the equivalent of 39 full-time staff, opened its new £3million CLAN House headquarters in Aberdeen in 2011 and has expanded to create facilities as far afield as Peterhead and Ballater on the mainland as well as on Shetland and Orkney. Today chief executive Debbie Thomson unveiled CLAN’s plans to celebrate the major milestone throughout 2013. She had a helping hand from nine-year-old Beth Cooper, who won a competition in which entrants were asked to design a special logo to mark the charity’s 30th year. Debbie said: “The 30th anniversary is special in so many ways. It is an opportunity to reflect on the incredible achievements of the past three decades but also to look to the future and the exciting times ahead for CLAN. “We have an incredibly loyal base of staff, volunteers and supporters who have worked tirelessly to ensure we live up to our promise ‘to comfort always’. Although CLAN has grown and expanded, retaining the family feel and warm environment is central to everything we do. “Creating our wonderful facility at CLAN House was a huge step forward but the hard work did not stop when we moved in. The fundraising to support our work across the North-east builds with every passing year as we strive to improve the quality of life of those who have been diagnosed with cancer as well as those closest to them. “Our services now have greater availability and variety and reach more people than ever before. We aim to use our 30th anniversary as a springboard to promote our services and reach out to as many people as we can. “Raising awareness of CLAN is also hugely important as we plan for the future. It is fitting that young Beth has had a part to play in the celebrations by coming up with the fantastic logo as it demonstrates the way we reach out to all parts of the communities we serve. We have tremendous support from schools across the area, particularly in fundraising, and connecting with the next generation is vital.” This year’s programme will feature a series of fundraising and awareness events linked to the 30th anniversary theme. These will include sporting dates, shows, concerts and other innovative fundraisers as well as the 30 Days for CLAN challenge in September – in which participants will be invited to devote the month to fundraising for the charity. CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness. Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of Grampian, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Inverurie, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

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