An Ayrshire wide celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Ayrshire Hospice, jointly hosted by North, South and East Ayrshire Councils, was held at the Walker Halls in Troon. The guests enjoyed an afternoon tea to mark the occasion.
[Pictured (left to right): Mandy Yule Chief Executive Ayrshire Hospice, South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie, Dr Kirsty Muirhead Lead Consultant Ayrshire Hospice, North Ayrshire Provost Joan Sturgeon and Deputy Provost of East Ayrshire John Campbell.]
On behalf of the Ayrshire Councils South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie welcomed everyone to the reception to mark the outstanding achievements of the Ayrshire Hospice.
North Ayrshire Schools Concert Band and the North Ayrshire Schools Senior Choir provided entertainment for the guests.
South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said: “25 years ago there was no Ayrshire Hospice and people across Ayrshire were working very hard to raise funds to establish the hospice. Since being established the hospice has grown physically, with facilities that we could only dream of many years ago. Importantly the main thing that has grown is its reputation for the care, attention and support it gives to the people it cares for, their friends and families.”
North Ayrshire Provost Joan Sturgeon said: “The Ayrshire Hospice is a wonderful facility which has earned the respect and gratitude of us all. I am delighted that the Ayrshire Hospice, in its special anniversary year, will share the proceeds of our gala Provost’s Civic Awards event in North Ayrshire next month. The people of North Ayrshire have taken the Ayrshire Hospice to heart in the 25 years since that long-held dream came to reality.”
East Ayrshire Council Provost Jim Todd said: “It’s amazing to think that the Ayrshire Hospice has been providing such an incredible service for a quarter of a century now. Its main aim is to help people to live as actively as they can to the end of their lives - however long that may be, wherever that may be. Because this care is provided at no cost to the patient the Hospice does require extensive, ongoing fundraising support so I would encourage people to get involved in any fundraising activities they can to help the Hospice to continue to deliver its outstanding work for many more years to come.”
As a lasting reminder of the 25th anniversary of the Ayrshire the Ayrshire councils presented the hospice with a Quaich and a scroll.
Mandy Yule, Chief Executive of the Ayrshire Hospice said: “We were very proud when North, South and East Ayrshire Council offered to host a civic reception in honour of our 25th anniversary this year. Since opening our doors in 1989, the hospice has gone from strength to strength and we have been privileged to provide outstanding hospice care to almost 15,500 people with life-limiting illness, and their families, across Ayrshire over the last 25 years. Of course none of this would have been possible without the unfaltering support of a very compassionate and generous Ayrshire community and dedication of our wonderful employed and voluntary staff. Today’s civic reception is true recognition that, by working together, we can all make today matter”.
A registered charity the Ayrshire Hospice provides outstanding quality care and services to adults with any life limiting illness across Ayrshire and Arran. This includes support and guidance for relatives, friends and colleagues of those using their services.
The hospice has over 171 employed members of staff and over 800 voluntary staff, working together to deliver outstanding care and services to patients, families and carers across Ayrshire.
In this 25th anniversary year more school children, community groups, businesses and other organisations large and small have been generously raising funds through everything from baking to biking, jogging to jam making, washing cars to washing dishes. Every penny raised is put to good use.
Employees from the Ayrshire councils continue to support the Ayrshire Hospice with a range of fundraising events such as taking part in annual Go Purple Day, the Midnight Walk and by giving their time to support them.
For further information about the Ayrshire Hospice go to www.ayrshirehospice.org
