Medics step up in memory of Inverness toddler
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NURSES and doctors are "walking" from Lands End to John O'Groats in their spare time from their vital work in the emergency department of Raigmore Hospital, all in memory of a former colleague's toddler daughter.
Whenever they are on break or off duty the big hearted medics are putting their best foot forward in a virtual hike up and down the stairs of the seven-storey hospital tower block until they clock up the 847 miles equivalent of walking between the two UK landmarks – and are raising money for the hospital's Birnie Centre and Riding for the Disabled.
Catrina Greig was the three-year-old daughter of staff nurse Clare and marine engineer husband James. She was diagnosed with leukaemia last August but just after she began chemotherapy she took an infection which led to sepsis and she died in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in September while the family were visiting Mrs Greig's parents near Wigan.
Mrs Greig, of Dunvegan Place, said: "It is really lovely that they are supporting these charities that gave us so much help.
"Catrina had Down's syndrome and the Birnie Centre at Raigmore for children with additional support needs is a tremendous facility. Catrina's balance was not good but they focused on getting her strong and she made great progress. A lot of people don't know about the Raigmore centre, who also do a lot of speech work with children.
"The horse riding also helped with Catrina's core strength and she loved going there."
Heather Johnstone, senior charge nurse in the emergency unit, said they wanted to do something to support the family after Catrina’s death.
“At the beginning of the year the department started a walking group, and each day those who can take part are walking up the stairs to the seventh floor of the tower block in the hospital and back again," she said.
“Our aim is to walk the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats and I’m pleased to say that once the miles walked so far have been totalled up we have made it into Scotland, so not long to go now.
“We’ve asked for donations from colleagues, friends and family which will be split between the Birnie Centre, which provided regular support to Catrina and her family, and Riding for the Disabled which Catrina regularly enjoyed. It seems like a small thing for us to do but we really wanted to show our support to the family.”
The group started the daunting challenge on January 1 with a target of raising £500, and with several hundred miles still to walk have already made £895.
The fundraising is being done through an online Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/heather-johnstone-2
It describes Catrina as a special girl, and added: "She loved her horse riding with Riding for the Disabled. She also got great support from the Birnie Centre. Everyone who knew her feels the need to raise money in her memory to support two causes that made such a difference to her.
"Each day staff on duty take time from their breaks to walk up seven flights of stairs and back to the department. The distance is then added to our total. This can be quite challenging given the busy nature of the department."
