‘A perfect cause to get behind’

THERE’S a nurse that my wife and I are very friendly with who is supporting her son through a very difficult battle with leukaemia.

I cannot imagine how hard her journey must be – a long road punctuated by heartache and tears and yet blessed with strength and compassion, and moments of joy and laughter in between. To be so important and yet to feel so powerless – to put your faith and trust in whatever you believe in and the doctors who are treating your lad but hide away your inflated inner belief of injustice.

Our friend fed back to us that this Herald on Sunday diary column has helped her and her son by discussing common feelings and themes, and has made them feel they aren’t alone in their predicament.

That’s a two-way street – sharing with others has given me strength too.

So, when she arrived at our door the other day and left some sensitive skin creams for me (ones that have helped her son get through the damage of radiotherapy) and a hanging basket with beautiful plants in full bloom we were left with a spring in our hearts and a smile on our faces.

That she – going through what she is going through – should think of driving to our house and giving us this is just so brilliant and unexpected.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic there has been a constant mantra ringing in our ears … we are all in this together.

Never a truer word. These words apply to so much more than this hellish virus. It is key to how we cope with adversity and challenge, and how we defeat the loneliness and isolation of facing life-threatening situations such as a terminal illness or the devastation of bereavement.

I think that’s where I get some of my inner strength – I have always enjoyed giving more than receiving. I get a real buzz from finding a brilliant gift that will be appreciated. I have always been driven to support charities and volunteer time to help good causes.

It’s a bit selfish really – because it makes me feel good. That’s why I do it. But it makes others feel good – sometimes because I browbeat them into sponsoring me and the end result is they are part of something quite big and meaningful.

I was a volunteer director of the NHS Credit Union which strives to tackle poverty and support families to become financially strong and independent. I am, and have been for the past eight years, a volunteer director with the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow and have served meals at Christmas, run through the streets of the city to raise funds, and even taken part in a sponsored Bubble Run in Bellahouston Park wearing a light blue tutu alongside five of my grandchildren (also wearing tutus … pink for the girls and blue for the boys). A sky-dive in aid of kids’ charity Clic Sargent raised thousands of pounds because people who know me know I am terrified of heights.

So, with that theme in mind, I also persuaded many pals to sponsor me for a Santa Bungee Jump from a giant crane on Clydeside in aid of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and raised a big bag of cash for a truly great cause.

Annemarie Plas – the woman credited with starting the Thursday night clap – has said she thinks the 10th should be the last. So what do we all do now to show solidarity and togetherness in the face of our ongoing war with coronavirus?

We should give something. Anything – our time, our talent or some of our money.

Earlier this week The Herald floated an idea to create a memorial cairn somewhere in the city – to create a garden of remembrance where those who have lost a loved one can go and reflect, and seek solace and perhaps share their grief.

It’s a wonderful gift of an idea and it’s been grabbed by thousands of people across the world of politics, business, families and individuals. Glasgow City Council has gifted a space in Pollok Counry Park – others have offered their skills to transform the space into a garden, and one local electrical and mechanical firm pledged cash to fund memorial benches. This is all in the spirit of what makes us strong. Being together makes us stronger and those who need support will be strengthened by all that we do to make this happen.

But it has to be about people and individuals so let’s replace the Thursday night clap with a round of applause for ourselves for raising one huge amount of money and support to make this remembrance cairn and garden a most spectacular place for anyone who has lost someone to Covid-19.

Let’s celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and mark our ingenuity by gifting to the memorial garden our cash and our talents.

Pledge your support and feed in your ideas/ offers to: memorialgarden@theherald.co.uk

Ally McLaws is founder and MD of the McLaws Consultancy specialists in reputation enhancement and protection. Among his clients is the UK’s influential Association of British Credit Unions where he operates as their external strategic adviser. www.mclawsconsultancy.com