Largs golfing legend Sam Torrance has given his full endorsement to local charity Gillian’s Saltire Appeal as it was announced as one of the official charities of the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open 
The past Ryder Cup Captain and Scottish golfing celebrity is a Gillian’s Saltire Appeal ambassador, and was on hand at the charity’s property in Largs, which provides respite for people recovering from cancer, to make the announcement. 
The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will be played at Dundonald Links on July 13-16. The charity partnership between Gillian’s Saltire Appeal and Maggie’s Centres in Glasgow means that the tournament will benefit two charities that make a real difference in the local area.
The two charities work closely together to provide support to people with cancer and those who care for them.
Gillian’s Saltire Appeal provides and maintains respite accommodation for cancer sufferers, their families and carers in Ayrshire and other parts of Scotland.
Maggie’s provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends, following the ideas about cancer care originally laid out by Maggie Keswick Jencks. The charity now runs a network of 20 cancer care centres helping people to live well with cancer, including eight in Scotland.
Over the course of the tournament, both charities will have a presence on site at Dundonald, and will benefit from a wide range of fundraising opportunities.
Speaking to the ‘News’, a delighted Sam Torrance said: “It is magnificent the way that the community have come together and rallied round for Gillian’s Saltire Appeal - it is all down to Les Ward, he is a local man, he has been here forever, and everyone loves him. It was a very sad occasion when his wife Gillian passed away, and the whole community got involved, and this is where we are with this marvellous charity.
“This link-up with the Scottish Open is huge for Gillian’s Saltire Appeal, and the amalgamation with the Maggie’s Centre as well, it is great all round.
“For the people recovering from cancer to come here and stay in one of the properties in Largs and Millport is a wee bit of paradise.”
Gillian’s Saltire Appeal Trustee, Les Ward, said: “The Gillian’s Saltire Appeal is delighted to be partnering with Maggie’s as official charities of this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald. “The funds raised during the iconic Scottish event will go a long way to improving and enhancing our properties in Largs and Millport, which we provide free of charge for cancer suffers from Maggie’s centres and their families to enjoy some well-deserved holiday respite.”
Maggie’s Chief Executive, Laura Lee, said: “It is wonderful for Maggie’s to have this opportunity to work with Gillian’s Saltire Appeal and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
“The tournament provides a tremendous platform to drive awareness of how both charities help people live well with cancer, while also raising vital funds for Maggie’s Glasgow.
“Maggie’s relies solely on voluntary donations to run its network of 20 support centres across the UK and beyond, including eight in Scotland, and being part of this year’s Scottish Open will undoubtedly make a difference to people with cancer, as well as their family and friends, across the West Coast of Scotland.”
Peter Adams, Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Tournament Director said: “We’re delighted to welcome both Gillian’s Saltire Appeal and Maggie’s as the tournament’s official charities.
“It’s very important to us that the tournament leaves a legacy in the local area, and with these two charities on board we can help to deliver really meaningful benefits to the local community.”
Professional caddy John Wilkie of Largs played a large part in negotiations to secure the deal for the Largs based charity to be the official charity for the Scottish Open.
John said: “It is a great boost for both charities, and they both need funds, and my main involvement will be organising the cricket match on Tuesday 11 July at Prestwick Cricket ground between a team of caddy and players, and Helensburgh and Prestwick cricket clubs. It will take a couple of hours, and there will be an auction after it for both charities including golf football, boxing, and Formula One. “
Valerie Ross, head of centre fundraising for Maggie’s Centre in Scotland, said: “It is incredible to have this backing and to have Sam’s endorsement for the partnership which has been ongoing for 11 years, which is incredible and has helped 450 families all from Maggie’s being able to take advantage, and the support provided by the flats in Largs, and now Millport, really complements the help that we provide to people with cancer, and their families and friends. On average it costs £2450 to run a Maggie’s Centre - our centres are all built in the grounds of specialist NHS cancer hospitals and they are warm, welcoming and uplifting places, providing a wide range of support which could be practical such as eating well, social support, or speaking to people who are going through the same experience, or specialist one to one support which our trained staff can give, or whether it is to sit quietly with a cup of tea. 
“The opening of the new flat in Millport at the turn of the year now gives even more opportunities for visitors to get a much needed break, to get away from it all, and get some proper respite from the journey they are on. The people of Largs have been an incredible support throughout that too, and it is great to see that recognition, and that we are going to tell upwards of 50-60,000 people at the Scottish Open of the work that we both do together. 
“It is an incredible opportunity for both of us - we are both small charities who rely on the communities around about us, and on donations, so having the awareness levels raised will make an incredible difference in terms of the funds we can raise.”
Pauline Thomson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, is one of the people who has benefitted from staying at Gillian’s Saltire Appeal’s property at the Moorings.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

Pauline, pictured with Sam above, said: “I have been here twice, and have been going to Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow on a regular basis. The house was recommended to me, and it takes your mind away from what you are going through and you are totally switched off. 
“I am in remission at the moment, but coming here is so central and everyone is so nice, it is just like family here. Les is only a phone call away for any help you need when you are here. Maggie’s Centre is like that as well. I brought my mother who is 85 last summer, and came in January with my partner when it was snowing, and I loved it on both occasions and it makes such a difference to your outlook.”
Les Ward said: “We do take credit for it, but it is really the people of Largs who really get behind it and help fundraise from schools to pubs.”
And another director David Ennis said: “People who come to the flat are guests at the start but they leave as friends, and I think that is very important.”