Highland Hospice stalwarts are honoured
TEN volunteers who have clocked up almost a centry’s service to the only hospice serving adults with incurable life-limiting diseases in the Highlands were rewarded this week.
Highland Hospice stalwarts from across Caithness were given a variety of long-service badges on Monday at a ceremony in the Castle of Mey.
The 10 have clocked up a total of 95 years in fundraising shops and helped sow and grow support for the charity across the county.
The hospice’s director of fundraising Andrew Leaver was on hand to present each volunteer with a silver badge.
"Our two shops in Caithness are both highly successful and hugely popular and this is due to the extraordinary commitment of our volunteers," he told the
John O’Groat Journal.
"It is truly impossible to put a value on the time they gift and we are enriched by their presence in the hospice team. The long service badges are just one small way we can show our appreciation for the dedication and hard work they show".
Every year, Highland Hospice recognises the extraordinary commitment of its small army of volunteers to recognise their tireless efforts to help those who need comfort and care in their last days.
Among those to receive a badge in person were the Wick shop’s Jean MacDonald, Rhona Houston, Margaret Maclean, (all 10 years) and Catherine Byrne (five years). From Thurso Jean Mackay (10 years) and Marjory Lord (15 years) were honoured.
Unable to attend were: Robert Maitland, Barbara Tait, Jane Cowan (all 10 years) and Liz Jones (five years).
Highland Hospice is the only hospice serving adults with incurable life-limiting disease in the region and is acknowledged as a resource of specialist palliative care expertise in the region.
The charity currently has a 10 bed in-patient unit in Inverness and a day hospice service covering Portree, Invergordon, Thurso and Fort William, as well as continuing in Inverness.