Hairmyres team set to raise funds for loved hospice

A team of 25 frontline Hairmyres Hospital nurses are repaying their gratitude to Kilbryde Hospice by pounding the streets for cash on their time off.

The NHS heroes, who all work in theatre, recovery or intensive care, are receiving holistic and emotional support from the hospice during what they described as the “most challenging time of their lives”.

As a thank you, the ladies have pledged to walk, run, or cycle 100km during the month of June, with all proceeds going to Kilbryde’s emergency COVID-19 Appeal.

And in their first couple of weeks a fantastic £5000 has been raised.

Organiser Clare Dunbar, a theatre recevery nurse, said: “During the COVID pandemic we have been working in ICU doing very difficult jobs to what we usually do, while wearing full PPE.

“The ICU staff have been great in supporting us in this very challenging time. The hospice have offered us holistic and emotional support and many of us have been overwhelmed by the entire situation.

“Obviously fundraising has stopped for charities with events being cancelled so when we heard that the hospice needed help raising more money to continue the vital service I suggested to my work friends to do this.

“There was no hesitation, they all wanted to help.

“The hospice provides essential end of life care to patients and supports the families involved – a vital service which any one of us will use.

“So on our days off we are out pounding the streets walking,running or cycling 100km. Some of the girls’children are also taking part – it’s amazing.

“Originally we thought it would be fantastic if we could raise £500, we are now over £4400. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated, we are fully aware that money is tight for a lot of families just now.

“We are overwhelmed by people’s generosity.”

You can make a donation via Facebook.