The Ayrshire Hospice marked its 30th anniversary, paying tribute to its dedicated team and fundraising supporters.

Employed and voluntary staff celebrated the milestone at the hospice’s drop-in cafe last Friday (February 15). The anniversary also saw the creation of a memory tree in the hospice for people to pay tribute to loved ones.

The work of the hospice has touched many lives throughout Ayrshire since it opened in 1989.

Ayrshire Hospice chief executive, Mandy Yule, paid tribute to the continuing support of the kind-hearted Ayrshire public and their importance to the hospice.

She said: “As we mark our 30th year, our message to the wonderful people of Ayrshire is, thank you. We wouldn’t be able to deliver the level of care we do if it wasn’t for your support.

“We have an incredible group of volunteers and fundraisers across Ayrshire – some of whom have given their time for over 30 years – and without their efforts, the hospice simply wouldn’t be here. Because of your efforts we have access to some of the best palliative care treatments available allowing us to give our patients comfort and quality of life.

“We have been privileged to give thousands of patients and their families the care and support they need, both at the hospice itself or wherever they have lived in Ayrshire over the last 30 years and we take great pride in that.”

To help mark the significant anniversary, a special memory tree was part of a roadshow at Ayr Central Shopping Centre last week. Members of the public could leave their own memories of loved ones or reflections of the hospice on the tree.

Mandy added: “We never take the compassionate and continued support of the hospice by the people of Ayrshire for granted.

“The memory tree has given people the chance to leave their own memories of loved ones or a message for the hospice. The heartfelt messages that have been left really capture the true meaning of hospice care and the support we have been able to provide our patients and their families with over the last 30 years. It has been very touching.”

The memory tree will now grow as part of an anniversary exhibition within the hospice over the coming weeks.