Highland Hospice nurse set for fundraising Great Wall of China trek
A Highland Hospice nurse spurred on by a sense of mission is getting set for a challenging trek on the other side of the world.
Gillian McRobie (55) has eagerly enrolled as a member of what looks set to be a 30-strong team who will walk a part of the Great Wall of China next year, aiming to raise a total of £200,000 for the hospice.
The senior nurse from Forres previously worked at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin as well as for cancer care charity Macmillan but has worked for the Inverness-based hospice for the past three years, most recently as a senior nurse.
Always knowing that she wanted to be more than “just” an employee when she came to Inverness she said: “Working at the hospice it has always been really important to me to be part of the wider ‘story’ of the place.
“This is so much more than just a place people come to at the end of their life - there are the nursing staff and staff on the other side of things; there are the patients and their families and also all the volunteers who help keep this place going and make it a very special place to be.
“Almost as soon as I got here I registered as a volunteer too, to be available to help with any events that they have and now I’m getting the chance to be a part of a major fundraiser.
“I always say I can’t sing so I’m no good for Ness Factor, I can’t dance so Strictly Inverness is out, but I can put one foot in front of the other, so this trek is my thing!”
The trek itself takes place between April 11 and 19 next year, but before then the team taking part have plenty of fundraising to do, starting with a China Ball at to be held at the MacDonald Drumossie Hotel on Saturday, March 1.
“We will have Chinese food and some music as well as auctions and raffles.” Gillian said.
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In terms of the trek she said that, alongside the chance to visit a part of world she has never been to before and getting to know new people, she is most looking forward to “being part of a team…the camaraderie…doing our bit to support the hospice.”
In terms of the trek she said that, alongside the chance to visit a part of world she has never been to before and getting to know new people, she is most looking forward to “being part of a team…the camaraderie…doing our bit to support the hospice.”
“I’m really lucky in my job to see where all the funds that are raised for the hospice go in terms of delivering care and support for patients and their families across the Highlands,” she added.
“I’ve got a lot of training to do ahead of this trek - I’m aiming to walk up Ben Wyvis once a month - but for me to give up a couple of afternoons now and then, even to suffer a few blisters or the odd achy knee is a small price to pay.
“The service provided by the hospice is outstanding and the support the public provides to allow that service to be delivered is really humbling and I’m just really looking forward to being able to do my part.”
The Chinese Ball is set to feature music from John B’s Daughter with additional entertainment from TFX Performing Arts Academy.
The evening will start at 7pm with individual tickets priced £65 and tables bookable for up to eight, 10 or 12 people.
For tickets email e.nicol@highlandhospice.org.uk
Gillian also has her own online fundraising page for the trek challenge at https://tinyurl.com/GillianGWC
