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Olympian joins CLAN’s winning team

North-east charity CLAN Cancer Support has bolstered its team with the addition of Olympic swimming star Robbie Renwick as its latest high profile patron.

The 24-year-old’s new role was announced during a visit to the organisation’s CLAN House base in Aberdeen yesterday (Sunday, April 21). He joins Open golf champion and Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie, who became a patron last year, on a varied list of patrons with a wide range of skills and expertise.

Robbie was a key part of the Team GB swimming team for the Olympics in London, having previously competed at the games in Beijing in 2008, and won a gold medal and two silvers during his Commonwealth Games appearances in 2006 and 2010. The 200m and 400m freestyle swimmer was also a double British champion last year.

The Aberdeen-born former Cults Academy pupil has joined forces with CLAN during the charity’s 30th anniversary year and is delighted to be its ambassador and supporting exciting plans for the future.

Robbie, a graduate of Strathclyde University, said: “There are very few people in the north-east who are not aware of the tremendous work being done by CLAN Cancer Support throughout this area, but I hope to be able to play a part in reaching out to an even wider audience.

“I know from my experiences in swimming the energy and focus required to reach specific goals – those are qualities the team at CLAN have in abundance, from the hundreds of loyal volunteers right through to the dedicated board members. There’s a real passion to help improve the lives of so many more clients in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

Robbie spent time with Children and Family Support Worker Ali Stokes and clients during his visit to CLAN House, the £3million Westburn Road centre opened in 2011.

Chief Executive Debbie Thomson said: “We are absolutely delighted Robbie has agreed to become a patron and lend his support to CLAN. His enthusiasm for the role has been wonderful to see.

“Ali and the team do a fantastic job in working with younger clients and the children of the families we support. Having a young sportsman involved will be a real inspiration and certainly help us to reach out and raise the awareness of this valuable service among even more people.

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, Elgin, Inverurie, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

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