Tuesday 26th January, Samantha Reilly of CHAS

CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) is the only charity in Scotland that provides vital hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions. At the Rotary Club of Ayr meeting on Tuesday, Fundraiser, Samantha Reilly delivered a riveting, no notes presentation on the history and good works of CHAS.

They offer care for the whole family in two children’s hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch. They also run a homecare service called CHAS at Home helping families in their own homes across Scotland when they need it most.

Samantha continued that CHAS are currently supporting over 380 families, as well as a significant number of families who receive bereavement support.

Their services are funded mainly through the generosity of our many supporters who help them to raise the vital funds needed to provide these hospice services. Caring for children, young people and their families is at the heart of all that they do. Their vision, said Samantha, is for children and young people in Scotland to have access to palliative care when and where they need it.

She used three recent heart rending experiences to illustrate just how dedicated and resilient the staff have to be, when confronted with the inevitable loss of a child and the continued caring of those in thier care.

Samantha’s sparkling personality and enthusiasm, shone through with every word and her well deserved vote of thanks was given by Harry Jackson.