Big-hearted residents of an Ayrshire town have rallied together to help boost the coffers at Ayr Hospital.
Maybole residents have taken on a fund-raising appeal with relish and inundated organisers of a grand raffle with prizes.
TVs, laptops, food processors, bread makers and £100 vouchers have all made a steady route to the group’s HQ in School Vennel, where Libby’s Handbags and Rytech Repairs are hosting the raffle later this month.
And the proceeds from the raffle are going towards Ayr Hospital’s Endowment Fund.
It’s hoped that the raffle, on Tuesday, August 31, can raise as much as £1,500.
And one mum of three has a poignant reason for getting involved in the fund-raising drive.
Mary Caldwell, who lives in Maybole, lost her husband Ernie in April, following a brave cancer battle at the hospital.
She wants to help raise cash for the hospital as a personal thank-you for the way staff cared for Ernie.
Ernie would have turned 60 on August 31, so the day of the raffle will be an emotional one for the entire Caldwell family.
Initially, Libby's Handbags, Rytech Repairs and Mary, got together to plan different fund-raising strategies.
But it snowballed into something much bigger and organisers decided to raise money for Ayr Hospital.
Now staff at Libby’s Handbags and Rytech Repairs are driving the fundraiser, with Mary lending her support too.
Mary, aged 59, said: “We now have 207 prizes donated and we plan to donate money to the Ayr Hospital cancer unit’s endowment fund.
“Given the current situation with COVID, I think it’s great that people have come together like that to help us.
"It’s absolutely amazing and I can’t thank the people of Maybole enough for their generosity and support.
“The draw is taking place at 12noon on Tuesday, August 31- it would have been the date of my husband Ernie’s 60th Birthday.
“Ernie received treatment at Ayr Hospital and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three years ago.
“But the staff were absolutely fantastic with him. They treated him with the utmost respect and were amazing.
“My husband would not allow his illness to get him down. He was positive right up until the morning he died.
“And when he was diagnosed the first thing that he said was ‘it is what it is.’”
The draw takes place at Libby’s Handbags and Rytech Repairs, 6/8 School Vennel, Maybole, and there are a host of amazing prizes to be won.
Mary, who has three sons, said: “A few days after we decided to hold the raffle, I got a note through my door, telling me to expect a delivery from Currys for a 32 inch TV, in memory of Ernie.
“We also have a laptop, food processor, bread maker, a £100 tattoo voucher, M&S vouchers and, at the moment, we have 207 prizes with another couple still to come through.”
If you want to purchase raffle tickets they are on sale at Libby’s Handbags and Rytech Repairs, Maybole. You can also message their Facebook pages.
Alternatively, you can buy them at The Cutting Room, hairdressers in Maybole High Street, and SAS International, where Eric worked for nearly 30 years.
Mary added: “I’ve been totally overwhelmed and delighted with people’s support.
“I have done many a raffle in Maybole, but nothing quite as big as this. It’s a great legacy for my husband, that’s for sure.”
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