A Dumbarton woman has thanked her colleagues at a local chippy for their support in helping her battle breast cancer, after they organised a fundraiser to raise money for the ward which treated her.
Silverton Fast Food will be running a charity event today (Tuesday), with every supper being sold for only £1.99 between 3pm and 9pm.
All proceeds will be donated to the Vale of Leven cancer ward to allow them to continue providing lifesaving treatment to the local community.
Bernadette Maguire has worked for the chippy for four years and has thanked the staff at Silverton Fast Food for their support.
She said: “I was diagnosed on October 11, 2019. One of the previous bosses had a chest infection, and I came down with a cough and alongside my ribs were sore. But that was how I found a wee lump.
“It was down to that guy coming down with a cough. I always say to him, ‘you saved my life’.”
“My niece and I were talking about having a charity night before going into lockdown, and my boss Reza suggested doing the charity event in the chippy. He has been brilliant.”
Bernadette started chemotherapy treatment in the ward at the end of 2019 and has spoken about how much she appreciates the local ward.
She said: “I am really grateful. I didn’t even know about the cancer ward before being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“The staff were brilliant with anything you asked and always answered it.
“I was nervous going through with the treatment in lockdown, but I did have the choice of whether I wanted to carry on with it. My last treatment was March 20, and specialist nurse Gerry (O’Hare) put me into lockdown before the country did on the 26th.
“He told me not to let anyone into my house. I used to have district nurses come to give me injections, but Gerry asked me to do it myself. I agreed because I knew that if I had any problems, I could’ve phoned them up anytime.”
Bernadette is receiving outpatient treatment from the ward.
Gerry O’Hare, the Clinical Nurse Specialist on the unit, said: “Donations from the community have been outstanding so far.
“The ward strives to be as friendly and welcoming as possible for patients. This is done with the support of the locals and people who hold the ward dear to their hearts.
“There have been many charity evenings at surrounding businesses and social clubs, and some anonymous donors have even been able to help patients when falling into financial hardship, such as paying a bill or simply helping with a food shop.
“While I am not from the local area, the people have genuinely welcomed me with open arms. It is a community where people look after one another.”
