Ayrshire Hospice and Kilmarnock FC kick off new partnership

The Ayrshire Hospice and Kilmarnock Football Club have teamed together this season in partnership to further enhance patient and family experiences within the Hospice.

The corporate partnership will allow for patient and families to attend a Kilmarnock home match, as well as the opportunity for a child of a patient family to be a mascot and lead the team out.

The Ayrshire Hospice has recently returned to Racecourse Road in Ayr after completing a transformational redevelopment project costing in excess of £18 million. The new 12-bed facility offer patients and their families a beautiful, comfortable and safe space to come together while they are cared and supported for by staff.

Men’s First Team captain, Brad Lyons, and Vice-captain, Robbie Deas, visited the Hospice to mark the partnership between both organisations, which started in August.

The players were given a tour of the hospice from Ayrshire Hospice Chief Executive, Tracy Flynn, before chatting with staff, patients and their families.

Shalane Breen, Ayrshire Hospice Senior Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Kilmarnock Football Club over the coming season. This partnership gives us the opportunity to provide our patients with experiences to enjoy with their families while in our care.

“Partnerships like this with Kilmarnock Football Club help to boost our visibility in the community, as we look to develop relationships with partners across Ayrshire for the benefit of our patients and our Hospice.”

Gregg McEwan, General Manager of Kilmarnock FC, added: “It’s great to have Ayrshire Hospice join our Charity Partner family as they look to settle back into their roots in the newly refurbished facility.

“The Hospice provide a great service, and I know over the years we have collaborated many times to assist fans who have been in their care. We look forward to working with them over the upcoming season.”

The Ayrshire Hospice provides excellence in palliative and end of life care for patients and their families across Ayrshire and Arran. They support people aged 16 and over, who have a diagnosis that is life-limiting which can include respiratory and heart diseases, neurological conditions as well as cancers and other illnesses.

You can find out more on how the Ayrshire Hospice can support you or ways to support them by visiting www.ayrshirehospice.org for more information.