Celebrations as Hospice marks its 35th birthday
Strathcarron Hospice celebrated its 35th anniversary last Thursday with a tea party at its Denny headquarters.
The event was one of many which have been going on everywhere from workplaces to people’s own kitchen tables to mark the occasion and raise vital funds for the charity.
Strathcarron has been inviting people to host their own birthday tea parties over April/May in aid of the hospice.
Since its opening on April 21, 1981, the hospice has provided palliative care for thousands of patients across the Forth Valley and Cumbernauld and support for their families.
The idea of a hospice and the planning started in 1975 when Dr Harold Lyon met with a few friends to consider whether their vision of “professional excellence and Christian compassion in a place that would be a home from home” was achievable.
The hospice purchased the house, Randolph Hill, in 1978, and spent nearly £250,000 converting it to provide 12 beds, but there was always an aspiration to have a purpose-built in-patient unit as well as day care, home care and education services. All that and more has now been achieved over the 35 years.
The charity’s services are still provided free of charge wherever they are needed – in people’s own homes, in hospitals and care homes and in the hospice itself in Denny. It costs £5.8million to deliver the services, £2 million of which is received from the NHS, however they need to raise more than £11,000 a day from fundraising and donations.
Jim Brown of the fundraising team said: “By getting involved people will be actively helping us to support terminally ill people in their own communities.”
Forthcoming fundraising events include a Strictly Strathcarron event at the Inchyra in Grangemouth on Sunday (May 1) featuring afternoon tea, live music, dancing and a competition to win the Strictly Strathcarron Glitterball Trophy.
The hospice is also hoping supporters will put their best feet forward for a new walk in Falkirk which will replace the annual ladies-only Stirling Midnight Tiara Walk which raised well over £2 million since its launch in 2009.
Organisers say the “Walk n Rock” at the Falkirk Kelpies has been created to meet a demand from men and younger walkers to also take part in a major walk for the hospice and they hope supporters of the Tiara Walk will back the new event.
A spokesperson said: “The ladies Midnight Walk in Stirling has been a wonderful event for us over the years, boosting our fundraising considerably, however in recent years we have received numerous requests for gentlemen and younger walkers to be able to join in the event, and many of our less physically able supporters were keen to be part of it as well so we decided to look for a route that would accommodate all ages and physical abilities, and try to come up with something fresh.
“The 5k route can accommodate walkers of all abilities, buggies and wheelchairs and with a 5pm start supporters of all ages can enjoy it and still be home by bedtime.
“There will be live music on the main stage from 5pm and throughout the evening plus a number of acts around the route, so people can walk n rock their way round then return to the Grand Lawn to enjoy the live music for the rest of the night.
“Sponsorship raised from all our events is essential to ensure continuation of our services. We need to raise £11,300 every day, and as our main fundraising event it is vital our big walk is well supported.
“We are excited to introduce this exciting new event and hope all our Midnight Walkers across Stirling and Hillfoots will join us by signing up at www.strathcarronhospice.net.”
For more information about any events contact the Strathcarron fundraising team on 01324 826222 or email fundraising@ strathcarronhospice.net.
People can also text ‘BigT35 £5’ to 70070 to donate £5 to the hospice.