Inspiring others to help
Rena Dow has helped raise thousands of pounds for Scotland’s children’s hospice charity, ensuring it can continue its hugely important work. By Sandra Dick
People often say, “One good deed deserves another”. And when it comes to looking after some of Scotland’s most fragile children, it seems that kindness can be contagious. Rena Dow from Hamilton began fundraising for children’s hospice charity CHAS 26 years ago – before its first hospice, Rachel House, was even built.
She was inspired by a newspaper appeal in 1994 asking people to help fund the building of Scotland’s first children’s hospice.
She joined friends and neighbours to form the Friends of CHAS Earnock Group, and began fundraising by holding ceilidhs and car boot sales, selling Christmas cards and taking in donations from local businesses and residents.
The group was supported by Hillhouse Parish Church, the West Church and other organisations in the area.
In the two decades since then, Rena and the Friends of CHAS Earnock have raised an incredible £ 86,000 for the children’s hospice charity.
Rena recalls: “Our first event was a ceilidh in Hamilton Town Hall which raised £ 2,000. It was only supposed to be a one- off but we just kept going and were delighted by all the support we got locally.
“People were so incredibly generous, and we will forever be grateful to every single person who helped us raise so much for CHAS.”
Rena was presented with a special paperweight by the charity to mark 20 years of fundraising.
Meanwhile, her efforts did not go unnoticed by one kind neighbour who, inspired by the group’s fundraising efforts, left an amazing £ 19,000 legacy gift to the charity.
“I am very proud of the fundraising I was able to do for CHAS over the years along with my friends and neighbours – it was very much a collective effort,” says Rena.
“I was really pleased to learn that this inspired my lovely neighbour to leave such a generous gift in her Will to CHAS – an incredible gift that will make such a difference to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and their families.”
CHAS supports more than 450 families across Scotland through its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, and its dedicated bases in Inverness and Aberdeen.
Thanks to CHAS, children and families receive palliative care, family respite care, homecare services and
other support in a joyful setting where precious memories are made.
As the pandemic took hold earlier this year, CHAS at Home and its world- first “virtual hospice” became vital sources of support and care.
Fundraising and gifts in Wills are crucial for CHAS’S funding, so it can continue offering its remarkable services
for children and families facing the toughest of times.
Charlene Mullan, CHAS legacy and in- memory giving co- ordinator, says: “We are completely blown away by this incredibly generous gift from Rena’s neighbour, but not surprised to learn she is such an inspiration.
“Rena and the Friends of CHAS
Earnock have been an integral part of the CHAS story and should feel proud of all they have achieved. We hope Rena’s story will inspire others to consider leaving a gift in their Will to CHAS, to help keep the joy alive for vulnerable children and their families and help make every moment count.” www. charity. chas. org. uk/ gift- in- will
Rena and the F Friends of CHAS Earnock k have been an integral par rt of the CHAS story and shou uld feel proud of all they have e achieved