Motivated by a near death experience and now inspired to help Strathcarron – fundraisers Danny and Malcolm are taking on our Kiltwalk challenge next month and encouraging others to sign up.
Danny suffered a cardiac arrest aged 71 on 29 March 2023 and was dead for seven minutes. Following his incredible recovery, he has been inspired to dedicate his life to helping others.
Along with good friend Malcolm, Danny will walk 23 miles through Edinburgh to raise funds for Strathcarron on Sunday 15 September.
Danny says: “I want to do challenges that make me feel alive as I have been given a second chance at life. Doing these challenges is for all those who can’t, like those in the Hospice and those no longer with us.
“Not everyone has a choice about what to do with the time they have left – I have a choice and I want to help people with the time I have.”
Danny Letford has seen the incredible impact that the work of Strathcarron does and feels motivated and passionate about helping fundraise for us. He has also started volunteering as a Strathcarron Compassionate Communities befriender to assist and support others within our community.
He adds: “There is a strong feeling of empathy and a special aura within the Hospice. It is an emotional place but with feelings of joy and acceptance.
“Everyone locally has a connection with Strathcarron. My partner Yvonne’s sister Elaine died there in 2002 when she was only 34. I know how much the experience meant to her and it inspired Yvonne to go on to work at the Hospice to give something back.
“We have always attended Life Up a Life and I have fundraised for the Hospice taking part in 10Ks and doing the West Highland Way over the years. It’s Yvonne’s 60 this year and I wanted to mark it by doing a big fundraiser for the Hospice so that’s another driving factor.”
Danny’s friend Malcolm Morgan also has personal ties with Strathcarron as his dad James and friend Alasdair both died in the Hospice.
Malcolm says: “The family support was incredible when my dad was here – we felt compassion and kindness and we were given the space and time we needed to grieve. Nothing was ever a bother for the staff we felt very well looked after.
“Danny had a health scare last year and is now really driven to help others – he is an absolute wonder! He needed a pal to take on these challenges – it gets us out exercising and we try to get out to train for longer walks together a couple of times a week.
“It feels like a great achievement when you complete a challenge like this and know your efforts are helping others.
“Strathcarron needs a lot of donations to keep it going and every little helps. It is getting harder and harder for charities to achieve the funding they need for services in the current climate. Our efforts are in memory of those we have lost and for everyone who works at the Hospice and the amazing work they do.”
You can donate to their challenge here:
There is still time to register for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk taking place next month register here – https://buff.ly/4brRwuz or visit our events page to find out about our other challenges All fundraising events | Strathcarron Hospice
Click here for more Strathcarron News News | Strathcarron Hospice
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About Strathcarron Hospice
We support people across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth living with a life limiting condition. We help to make every moment count for patients and their families, so that they can live well with their illness and make the most of the time they have, and when the time comes, to die well.
Strathcarron Hospice needs to raise around £102,000 a week to provide all their services, which are free to those who use them across our local communities.
As well as In- Patient and Hospice@Home care, our highly skilled multidisciplinary teams include Nursing teams, Patient and Family Support (social work), Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacist, Chaplains, Complementary Therapists, Consultants in Palliative Medicine and Specialty Doctors.
As a charity, Strathcarron Hospice is funded by the people we serve. They walk, run, cycle, jump, bake and go to many other amazing efforts to fundraise for their local Hospice. Strathcarron simply cannot continue delivering our valuable services free of charge, without the ongoing support of our communities.
With only one third of our hospice funded by the Government, we are incredibly grateful to our generous supporters who make up the significant shortfall.
Malcolm and Danny are from Bannockburn, Stirling.
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