Lossiemouth woman goes extra mile for Moray hospitals in dad's memory
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A GRIEVING Lossiemouth woman has set out on a 100-mile walk of remembrance as a way to thank two Moray hospitals which provided end-of-life care to her well-kent Elgin dad.
Gillian Davies (51) is raising money for Dr Gray's Hospital and Dufftown's Stephen Hospital after losing her father, Victor Sinclair (80), last month.
Her dad had suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for many years.
Throughout July the devoted daughter is aiming to raise £1000 by walking 100 miles to show gratitude to the hospital teams for the attentive care they gave Mr Sinclair – despite being stretched by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Gillian, of Hillview Place in the town, set up a JustGiving page, which has so far pulled in £820, and she is set to break the 60-mile mark in her challenge today.
She is being accompanied on the special walk by her 11-year-old black Labrador, Jet.
Former RAF serviceman Mr Sinclair, of Elgin's Golf View Crescent, was admitted to Dr Gray's on New Year's Eve last year and never did get home again.
He passed away on June 2 after being transferred to Dufftown for March and April, and finally Abbeyvale nursing home in Elgin.
An electrician to trade, Mr Sinclair joined the RAF aged 17. He worked abroad for 25 years as an aircraft engineer, for British Aerospace in Saudi Arabia and for Airworks in Oman.
After leaving the air force aged 34, Mr Sinclair worked for electrical appliance manufacturer Miele.
Gillian said: "My dad was well-liked in Elgin. He was more out than in, and he loved to stop and blether with folk wherever he went.
"After he died there were so many comments on Elgin's Past to Present Facebook page from people who knew him. That really pulled at my heart strings.
"He would have done anything for anybody – he was a true gent.
"So I'm doing this to remember my dad, a great character, and to thank the NHS for looking after him."
She added: "I'm sure my father is looking down on me every step of the way with a wink from his eye, saying 'well done pet'."
Earlier in the month Gillian boosted the total by making up treat boxes of home bakes to order in return for donations.
Gillian plans that Abbeyvale nursing home will also benefit from her fundraiser.
People can donate to Gillian's JustGiving effort here.
