WE DID IT!
Joy as Kilbryde Hospice is saved
A plea t o safeguard t he f uture of Kilbryde Hospice has been answered – and its chairman has given a heartfelt thanks to the local community for helping them stay afloat.
In June we reported how the future of the hospice was placed in doubt after suffering losses of up to £90,000 per month as lockdown took hold of the country.
However, four months on and the hospice has bridged the gap in its losses – thanks, largely, to the support of the local community.
Chairman of the hospice, Gordon McHugh, this week thanked the people of East Kilbride for coming to the charity’s aid, saying it “has been absolutely incredible”.
Gordon told the News this week : “We are so proud of what our community has achieved on our behalf and in turn we are proud to be able to continue to serve them.
“To every single person who has responded with generosity, fundraised on our behalf or kindly donated to our urgent appeal, we thank you.
“Every penny you have donated will help us protect the future of your hospice. “The importance of our care at Kilbryde was also recognised by the government, which supported us with a grant to assist us when our income was plummeting – together you have made a significant contribution to keeping our hospice safe and we are extremely grateful.” Kilbry de offers end-of-life care for local people and holds true their motto of‘ here because we care’.
The News first highlighted the extent of the problem faced by the hospice in May, launching the Save Our Hospice campaign later that month.
And the response to the rallying call was incredible, with hundreds moving to support Kilbryde in their hour of need – and you did so in the most innovative of ways, overcoming the barriers thrown up by lockdown.
Individuals, businesses, sports teams, schools and other organisations took part in a whole host of fundraisers, with online events and other initiatives.
The fundraising drive has seen the hospice’s raise nearly £50,000 of its own £90,000 target, but Gordon is urging
locals to keep up the momentum and help them bridge the funding gap going forward.
Kilbryde’s retail shops have all reopened with their flagship store at the Kingsgate Retail Park having moved to the former Halfords store.
Gordon added: “My sincere thanks go to Reith Lambert for their support in rehoming us.
“We will look to extending our retail activity over the coming months to assist us to increase our income.
“At the moment we are surviving, and, with your ongoing support and generosity, we hope to maintain a long-term presence within the South Lanarkshire community.
“As you would expect, we spend money very carefully at the hospice. We will always protect our services and put our patients first.
“As you can see, we are a community that is determined not to be beaten by this.”
Money raised for the charity included the My Kilbryde Challenge Team, which included hospice director Christine Sherry, who raised over £47,000.
Gordon gave special mention to Rhys, Annie and Phoebe at Mossneuk Primary, who raised £6405, cyclists Peter and Russell who completed a 24-hour virtual bike ride, raising £4380, and musical duo and hospice ambassadors Robert and May Miller, who raised over £21,000 by having online fundraisers and an auction.