The celebrities know YOU are the real stars
By
Craig Robertson
WHEN Ewan
McGregor and Sharleen Spiteri
cut the first turf in a field high above Balloch, Loch Lomondside,
almost exactly two years ago, they both made it clear that the
occasion wasn’t all about them.
 As
they marked the beginning of building work on Robin House,
Scotland’s second children’s hospice, they knew that the most
important person there was the third hand on the ceremonial spade
— little Robyn Watterson, whose story we told you last week.
All
the hard work that had gone before and was still to come was for
Robyn and every other child and their families who desperately
needed that new hospice.
More work
Today, as Robin House is almost ready to be handed over to CHAS
and families can prepare to move in, no-one will be happier to see
the rewards of all that hard graft than Ewan and Sharleen —
although it will mean even more work for them!
CHAS’s
two most famous champions, among a host of celebrity supporters,
have been involved with the hospice movement almost from the
beginning.
Anyone who has seen the pair around Rachel House knows exactly
what it means to them.
Meaningful
It’s
no PR stunt or orchestrated visit, it’s a very personal and
meaningful involvement.
Both
are juggling stellar careers, particularly Ewan, whose filming
schedule has taken him to Australia and America in recent months
for Star Wars and The Island.
But
they still find time for the project that’s dearest to their
hearts.
Now,
thanks to their efforts — and yours — their time will have to
be spread even thinner.
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 Sharleen and Ewan at the Robin House ground-breaking ceremony two years ago with, below, some of the other stars who have supported CHAS. From left,
(Top row) Sally Magnusson, Fred MacAulay, Carol
Smillie, (Bottom row) Alex
Ferns, Elaine C. Smith, and James Macpherson.
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Robin House, the fabulous new facility at Balloch which Sunday Post readers have done so much to bring about, will need and get as much of their attention as Rachel House.
It’s a price they’re happy to pay.
Ewan is deep in rehearsals and previews for his new West End musical
Guys And Dolls which opens on Wednesday, but he took time out to send a message of support to Robin House and a vote of thanks to Sunday Post readers.
“The children of Scotland desperately needed this service.
“It would have been absolutely criminal if they hadn’t got it.
Pressure
“This will ease the pressure on Rachel House considerably. It’s full every night of the year and the new hospice will make such a difference.”
It’s only a month since Ewan made a surprise last-minute trip to Rachel House but — despite his hectic schedule with the new show — he’s still planning to visit the new hospice within weeks.
He’ll be on stage every night so it will mean flying up and down from London on the same day, but that won’t deter him. It means too much.
Sharleen, whose own daughter, Misty Kyd, is nearly three, only realised when she visited the site of Robin House that she used to go to school just round the corner and actually played in the field where the hospice sits.
It just helps reinforce her personal ties with the place.
“I know how difficult and tiring it can be with a healthy child,” she told me.
“But I can’t imagine how hard it must be for the parents of children in Rachel House. It’s exhausting getting children in and out of cars, never mind bigger kids with wheelchairs.
Important
“As a mum, I get tired and need a break, so I know how important Rachel House is for parents.
“The new hospice means twice as many will have the chance of that break.
“We have our second hospice. It’s wonderful.”
CHAS has never doubted its good fortune in attracting a host of big names.
The stars have been only too happy to lend their time and support, first to Rachel House and then to the building of Robin House.
Ewan’s hospice visits inevitably make headlines — no matter how hard he tries to keep them quiet and personal — because of his global film star fame. However, others have worked just as hard in their own way.
Former Taggart star James Macpherson and his wife Jacqueline have been firm backers ever since a nervy first visit to Rachel House.
Once they realised the great work done by the hospice and the happy atmosphere round the place, they signed up for the long haul.
That was six years ago and they have been doing what they can ever since.
Similarly, comedian and radio host Fred MacAulay was an apprehensive first-time visitor to Rachel House with his wife Aileen back in December 2000.
Gigs
Instead, they were moved by the warmth, laughter and positive atmosphere of the place.
Fred came on board and has done everything, from cooking a meal for teenagers at the house and doing stand-up gigs to raise money for the new hospice, to putting on a show for CHAS volunteers.
Most importantly, he’s been back at Rachel House many times.
Alex Ferns — who played
EastEnders bad boy Trevor — visited Rachel House for the first time this January.
Like so many, he wanted it to be a private stopover without fuss, but was persuaded of the value of publicity for the hospice.
He recalls it as, “A beautiful space for children and their families to be given time together.”
Alex now plans to sing the praises of Rachel House and Robin House whenever he can.
Support
The likes of Carol Smillie, Elaine C. Smith, Sally Magnusson and BBC weather presenter Gail McGrane have also been regular visitors to Rachel House and have offered unstinting support to the new hospice.
CHAS have long realised the value of good publicity and a high profile to boost this most worthwhile of causes. And it has paid off.
However, they and the celebrities all know that the real stars of this show are the people who have put their hands in their pockets and made Robin House a reality.
That’s YOU!
Take a bow
folks
Back
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You can e-mail us at:
hospice@sundaypost.com
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