Student nurse behind lighting up campaign
A student nurse is part of a team organising a national day of reflection for those who have died from coronavirus after her grandparents both died during the pandemic.
Keren Nairns has been working with Covid-19 Families Scotland – a counterpart of Bereaved by Covid-19 – to launch an appeal for the national day of reflection.
Yesterday (Tuesday) marked the first anniversary of the first national lockdown imposed as coronavirus gripped Britain. To commemorate the occasion landmarks and key buildings across Scotland and Wales were lit up yellow – the colour recognised as loss from Covid 19.
The second year student nurse, who is currently out on placement, lost her grandmother Agnes Addison, from Stirling, last March to the virus.
The family was once again rocked when her grandfather David Wilson passed away in October last year due to a rapid deterioration of his health, which Keren says is due to lockdown and him grieving whilst in isolation.
Keren said:“My gran died of Covid on March 29 after eight days in ICU. She had asthma but otherwise was in great health. At 69-years-old she was living life to the fullest with a bustling social life and regular holidays with friends or weekends away with my grandad.
“She was a community carer until retirement in 2018 and was the heart and soul of her street and friends.”
She added:“My grandad died on October 7 due to a rapid decline in health, exacerbated by lockdown and shielding and also grieving in isolation. My grandad was also living a jetsetting lifestyle, loved working and regular trips away with my gran despite living separately. He was known for his boyish charm and cheek.”
To pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to the deadly virus the‘Light up Scotland’event was originally the work of Covid-19 Families Scotland, which is part of a wider group Bereaved by Covid-19.
Keren added:“Within the group we divided into the four nations and began our campaigns for a day of memorial with lighting up yellow. Shortly after the campaign we began working in collaboration with Marie Curie as they also had a day of reflection in the making for March 23 for all lives lost during the pandemic and it worked perfectly as their colour is also yellow.
“Now months on we have huge momentum building for the day. Wales and Scotland have had great success and have many landmarks and key buildings lit up including the Wallace Monument, the Kelpies, Falkirk Steeple and
Callander House.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged residents to take part in the moment of silence to reflect on the lives lost, the impact of Covid-19 and the dedication of frontline workers.
People are also being asked to take part in community tributes that saw households displaying yellow love hearts or ribbon decoration, daffodils in windows and lighting a candle or phone flashlight on doorsteps at 8pm to light up the nation.
The group behind the tribute was set up by Connie Mcready who lost her fiancé Jim Russel to Covid in April of last year. She has been a key figure of hope and support in the community, continuously campaigning and advocating for those lost to Covid-19.