Gillian’s Saltire Appeal
Honouring a loved one by helping others
David Milloy
After Gillian Ward from Largs passed away in 2005 at the desperately young age of 40, her husband, Les Ward, and his friends, Brian Tracey and David Ennis, resolved to do something that would honour Gillian’s memory in the best possible way – by helping others. To this end they set up and became trustees of a charity, Gillian’s Saltire Appeal, and embarked on a series of fund-raising initiatives with the aim of purchasing an electrically adjustable hospital bed. Little did they realise, however, that their target of £5,000 would be exceeded with ease. Indeed, so much money was raised that the charity was able to buy a two-bedroom flat in Largs in which families affected by cancer and their families could enjoy a free break in the seaside town.
Two years later, with funds having continued to flow into the charity, it was decided to upgrade the respite accommodation to a luxury flat on the Largs waterfront. A modern first floor flat with lift access and stunning sea views was therefore purchased and fitted out. That was in 2009, and it remains in use to the present day. The flat is operated in conjunction with the Beatson Cancer Charity, Ayrshire Cancer Support, and Maggie’s, through whom families are able to book the use of the flat for a six night stay in Largs. No fee is charged by Gillian’s Saltire Appeal for the use of the flat, and all costs involved in the running of it are met by the charity.
A visit to the flat reveals the level of care and attention to detail that the charity has put into not only choosing its location but also fitting it out. Aside from the aforementioned lift access, the main bedroom (of two) features an electrically adjustable bed, the shower is large and easily accessible, there are stunning sea views from the lounge and kitchen, and there’s even a small balcony (again, with sea views) equipped with a table and chairs. It’s the sort of flat, with tasteful décor and high quality furnishings, that any estate agent would justifiably proclaim to be in walk-in condition. As you’d expect, demand for the flat is high, and Les estimates that over 1,000 people have stayed in it over the years.
Fundraising for Gillian’s Saltire Appeal continues, both in the form of regular events and also by means of the collection tins which can be found in a number of the town’s businesses, these being the work of Jimmy and Janet Muir. The funds raised go towards not only the running of the flat but also to help support other charities, a recent example of this being a donation of £20,000 by Gillian’s Saltire Appeal to Ayrshire Cancer Support to help fund a new counselling room at ACS’s premises in Ayr.
Another of the charity’s recent endeavours involved delivering children’s clothing to orphanages in Ukraine as part of an aid convoy. It began when Les, who sells school clothing amongst other wares from his shop in the centre of Largs, donated a number of school uniforms to Gillian’s Saltire Appeal. These, together with medical supplies and 100 blankets and woolly hats knitted by Largs resident Helen Rumbold, were loaded into a van and driven to Ukraine by David Ennis and his brother Brian, both in their 70s, as part of a ‘Jeeps for Peace’ convoy from Scotland to Ukraine.
Les, David and Brian are quick and eager to express their gratitude to the people of Largs and the surrounding areas, for their continuing generosity. They are also very grateful for the help they receive from the local business community, with Drummond Bone and Fergus Duncan respectively providing professional accountancy and legal services to the charity. Together, they have made (and continue to make) a big difference in the lives of many people, and in doing so they have paid tribute to Gillian’s memory in the finest way possible.
www.gillianssaltireappeal.org.uk
