Doddie and PATCH are a winning team

Doddie Weir and PATCH Director Dr Gordon Paterson

Charity dinner raises over £8,000 to help fund palliative care projects in Borders.

News release – 15 May 2017 – PATCH teamed up with rugby legend Doddie Weir to host a very successful awareness and fundraising dinner at the Townhouse Hotel in Melrose on Saturday 6 May. The event, which was organised by the Friends of PATCH in the Borders, was a sell out and raised over £8,000.

Monies raised from ticket sales were supplemented by an auction of a painting of the Eildons in Winter, kindly donated by Scottish artist Alan Cameron and by silent auction lots and a raffle. The silent auction lots included a British Lions rugby shirt autographed by Doddie Weir and by All Blacks celebrity Sean Fitzpatrick.

PATCH is already working in partnership with NHS Borders, St Columba’s and Queen Margaret University to fund a training course to enhance the palliative and end of life care skills of a group of nurses working in a variety of care settings across the Borders.

Dr Gordon Paterson, Director of PATCH said:

The first group of eight nurses commenced a course at the end of March and further courses are planned. Recent discussions between PATCH and officials of NHS Borders have identified a number of other areas of potential partnership working. It is very encouraging that the support and generosity of those who attended the dinner has provided funding for further joint work in the Borders.

The Friends of PATCH are planning further events which will be publicised in local media.