A Castlehill mental health worker’s annual tea party helped raise more than £1100 for cancer services at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Diz Stratton, who works at The Phoenix, organised the event, now in its ninth year, to support services of the Vale – where members of her family battling cancer have received treatment.
She told the Lennox: “I have run my fundraisers for nine years now.
“My husband’s granny received cancer treatment from the Vale oncology ward, but sadly she passed away and shortly after my mother-in-law started to have treatment in the same ward.
“She still attends the ward weekly with Gerry O’Hare, who is the main oncologist there, and he shares stories and shows my mum-in-law things the money has given him the power to do.
“My own mum also has cancer and sadly lost her dad just before she started her chemo.
“She and my mum-in-law suffered awful side effects from the treatment.
“My mum is disabled from a huge stroke and is wheelchair bound with short-term memory issues.
“My mother-in-law has serious nerve damage in her feet.
“That has been my fuel to run this event and do my best for them and the people within the community. I suffer from lupus, fibromyalgia, Antiphospholipid syndrome and osteoarthritis myself, and sadly I have 2.5 discs missing from my back due to sepsis.
“The tea party had a huge turn out and I was told so many stories. It made me so emotional how brave people are and gave me even more fuel to do the best I can at my annual tea party.
“I want to do as much good within my community and for families as I can.
“I have a great team of family and friends who helped me immensely with this year’s tea party and for that I am forever grateful.”
