Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Height of kindness
Tinto climb for St Andrew’s Hospice
A kind- hearted Airdrie schoolgirl has collected nearly £1000 for St Andrew’s Hospice to thank staff for the wonderful care they provided to her family members.
Creative Ellie Hamilton held several fantastic fundraisers, including a “Little Mudder” obstacle course, a walk up Lanarkshire’s Tinto Hill and a sponsored silence.
The generous youngster, who is preparing to start life at St Margaret’s High after her time at All Saints Primary came to an end, decided to help the hospice after her grandfather and uncle received “exemplary” care from the hard-working team at the Airdrie facility.
Ellie’s dad Ryan Malone said: “Ellie sadly lost her papa Joe six years ago. He was diagnosed suddenly with pancreatic cancer and passed away after a brief spell of care at St Andrew’s Hospice.
“Being a young, fit papa of one, nobody could have known that Joe wouldn’t get the opportunity to be introduced to a further five grandchildren.
“Ellie helped Joe to experience what it was like to be a papa, even if only for a short time, and she holds this dearly in her heart.
“The hospice has offered members of Ellie’s family excellent support over the years. Her Uncle Tam, who sadly passed away as a young man to bowel cancer just over a year ago, also received care at the hospice.
“The hospice relies on public donations to keep their doors open and provides a vital service to the local community; a service which has helped so many families during their toughest moments.
“This is why Ellie chose to raise funds for the hospice; to say thank you, on behalf of all of us.”
Ellie recently collected £948.75 for the hospice after fundraising throughout her final year at primary school.
Ryan added: “Over the past 12 months or so, Ellie helped to raise funds by arranging an Easter egg hunt – her first event – and a ‘Little Mudder’ obstacle course, which she organised last summer with one of her best friends, Addison.
“Ellie also completed a sponsored walk up Tinto Hill, sold football cards, held raffles and undertook a sponsored silence – a task that she found extremely difficult!
“She also spent a day using only one arm, ran a five-kilometre Santa Dash and made cookies for her neighbours, among many other activities.
“Lockdown put the brakes on Ellie’s fundraising towards the end of her summer goal. However, she kept the community spirit going by creating ‘Book Bears’.
“This saw her leave used books – which she wiped down first – around communities for other kids to find, use and pass on. Ellie hopes to help raise more funds for charities when she moves on to high school.”
To donate to Ellie’s fundraising effort, visit https:// www. justgiving. com/ fundraising/ellieprimary7