CHAS May 10th

Wed, May 10th 2023 at 12:50 am - 2:00 am

Gillian Donald will update us on the wonderful work done by this charity.

Club members please log in for more information.

Gillian Donald spoke movingly to the St Andrews Rotary Club about the work of the registered charity, CHAS, Children’s Hospice Association Scotland. While a student at Aberdeen University, Gillian met her husband Neil, a fellow student. Their son, Finley was born in 2008, but sadly, when he was 5 he was diagnosed with a very rare life-shortening illness. Gillian, an employment lawyer, left her post after deciding to devote herself entirely to caring for Finley. CHAS gave invaluable, much appreciated support throughout the few years Finley had left. As a result of their support, Finley was able to die peacefully in his own bed at home in May 2020. Grateful for all the help she received, Gillian has since devoted herself to CHAS, becoming a board member, a trustee, in September 2022. Gillian acknowledged the valuable donations given to CHAS over the years by the Rotary Club. CHAS relies on donations and funding from many sources, including a relatively small contribution from the Scottish government, because CHAS relieves the NHS through reduced hospital admissions, GP visits, and hospital stays. Its initial fundraising, begun in 1991 by founding parents, Jack & Nancy Blaik, (and their son), had a target of £10m. In Scotland at that time there was no hospice provision for children. In 1992 CHAS acquired its charitable status. Rachel House opened in 1996, followed by Robin House in 2005. In between came At Home Services, then Diana Children’s Nurses, who liaise between hospital, families, and CHAS. The Virtual Hospice, developed during Covid, also gives financial and bereavement advice. Art and music therapy, and story telling, are also available. Through love and compassion CHAS allows children “the freedom to be themselves” up to their passing; afterwards parents continue to receive maximum support. Mervyn Blank gave the vote of thanks.

'What We Do' Main Pages: