Marina Dalglish opens £2 million Health Training Centre named in her honour

THE Marina Dalglish Centre, a new state of the art Health and Healthcare Science Learning Facility, by Hugh Baird College, has officially opened. The centre was opened by Marina Dalglish, founder of The Marina Dalglish Appeal, a Merseyside based cancer charity that the Dalglish family set up in 2005 to say thank you for the support Marina received during her treatment for breast cancer. The appeal has raised over £13million to improve the lives of those living with cancer.

The £2 million centre, constructed by John Turner and designed by IBI Group, is located on Hugh Baird College's Healthcare Campus in Bootle. It houses 2 life sciences laboratories and a digital studio, used by Health and Healthcare Science students who are preparing for a career in these sectors.

Marina Dalglish said:- "I am incredibly humbled to have this new centre named after me. I initially said:- 'no' as I like to stay in the background, but coming here today and seeing it full of students working towards their careers in the health sector has been inspirational. To think there could be a student here who could save someone's life in the future is so important."

Rachael Hennigan, Principal and Chief Executive of Hugh Baird College, said:- "We are thankful to Marina and her family for allowing us to name our new centre in her honour. The Marina Dalglish Centre is the College's small way of recognising Marina's tireless philanthropy to those living with cancer through the Marina Dalglish Appeal and her support of our Region's healthcare providers. Marina's connection to the centre will help inspire our students, the next generation of health and healthcare science professionals."

The new centre sits within Hugh Baird College's Healthcare Campus on Oriel Road in Bootle. The campus is where the College's health and social care BTEC and T-level courses are delivered. The campus includes The Life Rooms, a resource by MerseyCare NHS Foundation Trust for the local community to access short courses, information and advice about physical and mental wellbeing, money and housing.

To find out more about Hugh Baird College's health and social care courses, visit:- HughBaird.AC.UK.

To find out more about The Marina Dalglish Appeal, visit:- MarinaDalglishAppeal.Org.
 

BERNIE Hollywood OBE JP, the 63 year old founder of the Boat of Hope campaign, has begun 3,000 mile solo row to raise awareness for young people's mental health on Monday, 12 December 2022. The challenge will see him rowing for up to 3 months in aid of young people's mental health.

If you do not know who Bernie is, he is a charity guru extraordinaire, who has over the past 39 years raised £42 million pounds for UK and overseas charities. He is a world record holder running the longest distance in 7 days and has received countless awards for his philanthropy over the last 2 decades, including the President's Certificate of Appreciation from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall in recognition of his work with Barnardo's and The Honours Award for the millions raised for local charities in his hometown of Liverpool.

Bernie's Boat of Hope campaign aims to raise vital awareness for youth mental health; an issue which has been mounting in the UK. He is determined to tackle the stigma typically associated with youth mental health, raising funds for charities Samaritans, and Love Rowing in the process.

Bernie will be rowing solo across the Atlantic, in his specially designed 6m x 1.5 m Rannoch Adventure R10 Solo Ocean Rowing Boat, as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. He will new be living on his boat throughout the challenge, which features a bespoke mural created by renowned UK artist, Justin Eagleton, depicting a journey out of darkness and depression into hope.

Bernie's row to raise awareness for youth mental health will take up to 90 days, and he will be rowing for up to 18 hours per day, making this the biggest challenge yet in his philanthropic career. However, the campaign will continue after he has completed his Atlantic challenge, with an exhibition set to take place in Liverpool Cathedral in May 2023 to further raise awareness for youth mental health issues.

Bernie Hollywood OBE JP said:- "After much anticipation, I am very excited to finally be setting off on my solo row across the Atlantic. While the challenge will undoubtedly be gruelling, knowing that I will be raising awareness and funds for the massively important issue of youth mental health will keep me going through the tough times. I'm looking forward to continuing to spread this important message on my return and hope my journey is a source of hope for thousands of young people suffering with their mental health in the UK."

Clint Wilson, CEO of Parent Pay, the principal partner of the Boat of Hope campaign added:- "It has been an honour to support Bernie with his campaign up until this point and we are tremendously proud of all he has achieved, speaking to children and young people country wide on mental health. We wish him the best of luck on his Atlantic journey and look forward to seeing the impact he has had, and will continue to have, on thousands of young lives on his return."