As our campaign reaches £2.75 million we can announce . . .

Stewart Ferguson, Kier Scotland’s project manager, and Margaret Robertson, who will be head of care at the new hospice, take a look at how Robin House is progressing.
The day we’ve all 
been waiting for

By Colin Grant Today we have two great announcements in our hospice campaign. Firstly, thanks to the hard work and amazing generosity of our readers, we have now raised an astonishing £2.75 million.  Secondly, we can exclusively reveal the opening date for Scotland’s new children’s hospice at Loch Lomond. Last week, CHAS Chief Executive Agnes Malone confirmed that Robin House will welcome its first family in March — just 10 months from now. A delighted Agnes said, “There have been many obstacles in our way, but we’ve overcome them all. Worst moment

One of Eilidh’s £1 photos.

“The worst moment arrived when our original builders, Lilley, went into administration and the project was held up for what seemed like an indefinite period. “And while we were very sorry for all concerned at Lilley we’re very happy with Kier Scotland, who have taken over.” Agnes also paid tribute to the phenomenal success of our campaign. “The support of thousands upon thousands of Sunday Post readers has been magnificent.  “It’s nearly three years since The Sunday Post launched its campaign, and in that time money from those readers has reached us at the rate of around £100,000 a month. It’s an amazing achievement.” Our contributors have come from all over the world and the amounts raised have varied from £2 to £250,000. One of the things that has brought them all together is the realisation that so many children and their families are depending on this hospice. That’s the reason little Eilidh McIntyre got involved. The five-year-old from Falkirk heard about Robin House from her mum, Diane, who is a member of the Falkirk Friends of CHAS. The group got together in January after reading about Robin House in The Sunday Post and have already raised £4000. Touching Diane’s regularly involved in CHAS events and Eilidh decided she wanted to join in. Her first attempt was to offer her mum her brand new slippers so that they could be sold for CHAS. Diane said, “She is a very considerate wee thing and is aware the children using Rachel House are sick and they won’t get better, which is why it’s so touching that she wants to do things to help them. “I was nearly in tears when she offered her new slippers, because when she got them she was over the moon and wears them all the time, so I know how much of a sacrifice it was for her to give them up.” Diane decided that Eilidh should keep the slippers but the P1 pupil was undeterred and came up with a new idea. Last week, she got her first school photos. Included were eight passport-sized shots. Eilidh has decided that if any of her relatives want one they’ll have to pay £1 each and all proceeds will go to Robin House. “It’s quite beautiful to hear of such a young person getting involved in thinking about others who are less fortunate,” said Agnes Malone.  “It brings a lump to your throat.” Our appeal on behalf of Robin House will continue right up until that very special day in March when the doors open for the first time.

You can e-mail us at: hospice@sundaypost.com