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Silent vigil for hospice is this Saturday

20 July

There will be a silent vigil this Saturday to mark a full year since the Cowal Hospice closed its doors.

In that time the community has not given up the fight to have the hospice re-opened and save cancer sufferers their current punishing ferry trip for treatment.

The closure was supposed to be temporary. Refurbishment work, much of it paid for by donation, had just been completed and it was claimed that the hospice had to shut because of staff shortages through sickness.

But it has not yet re-opened, and there have been moves by NHS Highland to make the closure permanent.

Earlier this year, hundreds of local people took to the streets to protest.

Local campaigner Sybil Baldwin, whose husband Alan died in the hospice, is organising this next round of the campaign.

The vigil will be outside the hospice at noon and will end with the release of helium balloons. You can buy balloons at the Price-wise Plus next  to the Bookpoint and Terrific Card Shop.

Please make sure you turn your mobile off or mute it.

Sybil has a Facebook group and a blog supporting the hospice, and there is more information here.

Here’s how the story has developed on s1dunoon so far this year:

Jan 11 2011: Closure of Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice means ferry journey for cancer sufferers.

Jan 24 2011: Thousands back campaign to save Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice

Jan 26 2011: Proposal to shut down Cowal Hospice faces legal challenge

Feb 7 2011: Campaign for Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice reaches parliament

Feb 16 2011: Fight to save Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice continues

Mar 14 2011: Protest planned to save Dunoon’s hospice

April 13 2011: Support the protest

April 18 2011: Hundreds attend protest to save Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice

May 9 2011: Protest for Dunoon’s Cowal Hospice goes to Health Board’s door

May 16 2011: How can we save Dunoon Hospice?

Jun 15 2011: Mike Russell promises Dunoon Hospice is high on the agenda

June 16 2011: And I will cycle 500 miles

Jun 28 2011: Dunoon’s Hospice has been shut for almost a year


23 July | 1:41:25

Sybil Baldwin says

Thank you to everyone who managed to come along today, The sun shone , and folks chipped in and helped fill the Balloons, tie and tag Balloons, We even made some money for the hospice, about £60 from the balloons, thank you,  

23 July | 10:24:48

Sybil Baldwin says

Just received the following email The first Balloon Notification 
" I found a pink balloon on Allonby Beach, Cumbria this evening with the name Jane Simpson on the tag. 
Good luck to all involved. 
Julie Wrigley"

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