St Andrew’s Hospice has launched its special summer commemoration event, inviting supporters to dedicate a “thanksgiving thistle” in memory of their loved ones.
All names submitted will be written on colourful thistle markers which will be planted to create a striking display in the grounds of the Airdrie hospice – where a memorial service will then take place in August.
The project helps to raise funds for the charity’s vital work in supporting patients and their families from across Lanarkshire.
Hospice volunteer Eileen Mallaghan is supporting the initiative in memory of her beloved late husband Jim, who sadly passed away in December 2019, a year after being diagnosed with sarcoma.
The couple had both already volunteered with St Andrew’s for a year prior to Jim’s diagnosis after being inspired by a talk at their church from fundraising representative Lorna McCafferty – with Eileen saying: “Little did we know that we would use the hospice’s services within a couple of years.”
She said: “Jim became a volunteer at the warehouse, going out in one of the vans delivering goods to and from the hospice shops, and I became a shop volunteer, initially in the Dove Shop within the hospice and was privileged to serve the patients, their families, staff and the public.
“He thoroughly enjoyed volunteering and would always tell me that his soup and sandwich lunch in the hospice canteen was fantastic!”
Eileen told how their “family journey changed” when Jim was admitted to St Andrew’s in November 2019, and said: “We felt we had been wrapped up in a large hospice blanket full of love, care and compassion.
“The staff took over Jim’s care but still remembered that our son Paul and I needed some TLC too; our whole family were well looked after.
“What a relief it was knowing that Jim was in the hands of such caring, capable professionals – the nursing and auxiliary staff were wonderful and did everything they could to make Jim comfortable. Nothing was a bother and it was always done with a smile.”
She said: “Jim died peacefully on December 19 with Paul and I at his bedside. We know that he had the best of care and cannot thank all the hospice staff enough.”
Thistles can be dedicated through the hospice website; the thanksgiving service will take place in the hospice grounds on Thursday, August 24, at 7pm and those attending will afterwards be invited to take home their personalised thistle to keep. Malcolm Group and Tyrrells of Burnbank are sponsoring this year’s thistles initiative.
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