Tennis Scotland has today announced an exciting new partnership with leading cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.  The two year partnership is the organisations first official association with a charity.

From left to right - David Marshall (TS CEO), Jan Forrest (MCS Area Fundraising Manager), Kevin Simpson, Christine Windmill (TS President), Calum Meston

Involving each of their 220 clubs across Scotland, Tennis Scotland hope to raise £100,000 for Macmillan over the two years and have various fundraising activities planned to help them achieve this.  This ambitious target could fund 2 full-time Macmillan nurses for a year and works out at less that £2.40 per club member in Scotland or £454 per registered club. 

The partnership comes following Macmillan’s recent research which has shown that physical activity following treatment for cancer can aid the recovery process and reduce the risk of recurrence.  Macmillan’s Move More study found that breast cancer patients’ risk of recurrence and of dying from the disease can be reduced by up 40% by doing recommended levels of physical activity while bowel cancer patients’ risk of recurrence and of dying from the disease can be reduced by around 50% by doing significant amounts of physical activity and prostate cancer patients’ risk of dying from the disease can be reduced by up to 30% by doing recommended levels of physical activity.

Kevin Simpson, GB Paralympian (Wheelchair Tennis) who attended today's launch said: “After my accident, tennis was able to support me through my rehabilitation, keeping me fit and active.  I am confident that this new partnership between Tennis Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support can better the lives of thousands of people living with cancer, by getting more people playing tennis.”

GB Paralympian Kevin Simpson from Linlithgow

David Marshall, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Scotland said: “Tennis Scotland is confident that our exciting new partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support will be able to raise crucial funds to help support the lives of those living with cancer.  Through our partnership we also hope to be able to encourage people to pick up a tennis racket and take part in the many forms of the game, as part of a healthy active lifestyle.”

Jan Forrest, Area Fundraising Manager, South and East of Scotland Macmillan Cancer Support said: “We are delighted that Tennis Scotland has chosen Macmillan for their first charity partnership and are incredibly excited about working with the teams across Scotland.  As our recent research has shown, physical activity following cancer treatment can help aid the recovery process and reduce the risk of recurrence so our partnership will hopefully encourage those affected by cancer to get out on their local tennis courts this summer.”

Jan continued: “It is a very impressive fundraising target, which we are confident will be reached and every pound raised will help to ensure that people affected by cancer throughout Scotland will receive support from Macmillan during what will be the toughest fight they have faced.”

Clubs across Scotland will receive fundraising packs from Tennis Scotland / Macmillan Cancer Support during the week commencing 20th February, with loads of ideas on how they can support this partnership throughout the 2 year partnership.

A dedicated fundraising page has been set-up through Just Giving, which will allow clubs, groups and individuals to contribute towards the exciting fundraising target.  The page can be accessed at:

http://www.justgiving.com/company/tennisscotland

Today's announcement has received the backing of Scotland's top tennis talent.

British number 1 doubles star Colin Fleming, who is currently in preparations for this weekend's Davis Cup tie at Braehead, said: “Everybody knows someone who has been affected by cancer and every penny of the money raised by tennis players all over Scotland will be put to good use.  Tennis Scotland’s target of £100,000 over two years is an ambitious one but also a realistic one and I’m sure clubs will be trying to outdo one another to come up with the quirkiest way to raise funds!  This is a partnership I support and I wish it every success.”

Elena Baltacha, Britain's number 1 female, added: "The work that Macmillan Cancer Support does is massively important for helping families affected by this horrible disease and I'm sure all of us in Scottish tennis are proud to be involved.  We get to play a sport that we love, but it's important that we remember how lucky we are.  Pulling together to help Macmillan do the amazing job it does is the very least we can do."

Whilst Jamie Baker, the British number 3, said: "I’m delighted that Tennis Scotland has elected to partner with Macmillan Cancer Support as its nominated charity. Macmillan does fantastic work in improving the lives of people affected by cancer and I know the tennis community in Scotland will get right behind the fundraising efforts. Cancer doesn’t discriminate in terms of who it affects and I am more than happy to support the partnership in any way I can.”

And Gordon Reid, the current British number 1 wheelchair tennis player, commented: "This is a great cause and one which I am sure the whole Scottish tennis community will get behind.  As well as making a real difference to the lives of many, people will get the opportunity to get involved in a true sport for all."

Find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support through their official website

Additional Notes:

1. Increasing the amount of moderate intensity physical activity up to recommended levels can help reduce breast cancer patients’ risk of dying from the disease and of recurrence by up to 40%, compared to those doing less than an hour a week.

2. Bowel cancer patients doing around 6 hours of moderate intensity physical activity a week could help reduce their risk of dying from the disease by around 50% compared to those doing less than an hour a week. Evidence from two studies also shows that bowel cancer patients doing around 6 hours of physical activity a week could help reduce their risk of cancer coming back by around 50%, compared to those doing less than an hour a week.

3. Doing recommended levels of physical activity can help reduce prostate cancer patients’ risk of dying from the disease by up to 30% compared to those doing less than an hour a week.