Welcome to 2021! Ok, so it’s not quite what we had hoped for the start of a fresh New Year but there is, at least, hope on the horizon. With the introduction of the vaccines, we are all pleased to see a shining light at the end of this very long tunnel.
For now though, our focus is on supporting our amazing team at the Mac Unit as we see Covid-19 cases surge across our county and further challenges brought on by another lockdown. Our nurses, doctors, clinical and administrative and staff and volunteers are once again proving that nothing will stop them in their quest to give every one of our patients and families the best care and support possible. Their courage, strength and selflessness continues to shine and we are immensely proud of them all.
Christmas was a little different for all of us this year with the government restrictions in place. However, our patients were treated to a mini carol concert performed by our very own super-talented staff and we were delighted that Father Christmas was still able to stop by on Christmas morning with his familiar good cheer and gifts. We were very honoured to have the Salvation Army playing some carols in the garden on Christmas morning – our patients really enjoyed the beautiful music and the band were so kind to keep playing despite the freezing temperatures! The team worked hard to ensure that some decorations and lights were installed – something of a mammoth challenge considering the limitations around infection control (no trees and everything had to be wipe clean) – and the garden looked beautiful throughout the festive period.
We are overwhelmed by the support we have received over the last few weeks. Despite the cancellation of the White Christmas Dip, lots of you took it upon yourselves to go and do your own dip and have been dipping, donating and nominating others to do the same. Extra kudos to the couple who hammered a space in the ice of a lake before taking their dip!! We are also delighted at the response we have had for our Christmas Appeal. Like all charities, the pandemic has and continues to have a detrimental impact on fundraising and charitable income so your support and donations over Christmas have really made a difference. Thank you.
In the next few weeks and months, we are looking forward to keeping in touch with you all as much as possible and have a few things planned for the ‘virtual world’ of lockdown in which we are currently living. Most exciting of all is the return of our Quiz Night! Our Barry is back on your Facebook Live stream this Friday 15th January at 8pm for a Lockdown Special Quiz Night and we can’t wait to see you all there! On the subject of virtual get togethers, if you have a fun idea you want to share with us to get our community together over the lockdown period, do get in touch – we love new ideas!
We are all currently living in exceptional times and the next few weeks seem set to further challenge our team on the Mac Unit along with all NHS staff and other key workers. Please look after yourselves, stay safe and try to do something every day that makes you smile. Things are difficult but we can get through this together. Your support and kindness always lifts and inspires our team – stay in touch and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Until next time….
Anyone that wishes to make a donation can do so on our website at www.macmillanlocal.org/make-a-donation and if you haven’t already signed up to our newsletter, you can do so at www.macmillanlocal.org/subscribe. You can also read our appeal for support through the Coronavirus at www.macmillanlocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Covid-appeal-260320.pdf
