MP backs cervical cancer appeal May takes on role of chieftain at games
Volunteer takes title
Mar tyn Day, MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, loaned his support to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s #SmearForSmear campaign.
The campaign took place during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week in January and aimed to increase the number of women attending cervical screening.
All women aged 25 to 64 across Scotland are invited to have a cervical screening test every three years from age 25 to 49 and every five years from age 50 to 64.
Yet one in four women don’t attend when invited, even though cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35.
Martyn Day said: “I was shocked to learn that within my own constituency, only 71.7 per cent of women offered cervical screening by NHS Lothian attended.
“This is despite the fact that cervical screening prevents 75 per cent of cancers from developing.
“This is why I am support i n g Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s #SmearForSmear campaign and urging all women within my constituency to attend their cervical screening when invited.” For details visit https://www.jostrust.org.uk/
A West Lothian woman with over 35 years of dedicated volunteering has been rewarded with the coveted top role at West Lothian Highland Games.
May Ross from Boghall, Bathgate, has been announced as chieftain of the 47th West Lothian Highland Games, at Bathgate’s Meadow Park on May 26. May ( 81) has been involved in the games since she joined the committee back in the early 1980s, including helping host the European Pipe Band Championships.
Her love of pipe bands and the Highland games were shared with her later husband Ernie, a former side drummer with the Broxburn Pipe Band and games committee member himself.
May Ross, who is also an active member of Boghall Parish Church, said: “I was surprised, albeit extremely honoured, to be named as the 2018 chieftain. The committee are all volunteers with an aim to keep Highland games traditions alive.
“The West Lothian Highland Games have been very dear to me for many years.”
The 2018 West Lothian Highland Games promises to be another fantastic event, with pipe band and solo piping competitions, Highland dancing, heavy sports such as tossing the caber and the Weslo Cairnpapple Hill race.
Alex Linkston, chair of the West Lothian Highland Games Committee, said: “May is one of our longest-serving committee members, and we are delighted to honour her in this way.
“She is a very humble lady, who works diligently and quietly in the background, purely for the love of the games. We as a committee are privileged to be able to tap into May’s vast experience and wise words of wisdom.”
To keep in touch with updates in the build-up to the games, please visit www.westlothiangames.com or follow them on social media.