A DUNTOCHER woman went the extra mile to add a personal touch to an NHS appeal which helps families affected by coronavirus.

Last month NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) made an appeal for residents in the area to knit small hearts to allow families in Clydebank feel close to their relatives as they battled Covid.

Josie Torrance, 75, took it one step further by attaching little heartfelt poems which she wrote herself, to her knitted hearts

She said: “I just wanted to help, so I put some wee messages in, to let them know they were loved.

“Me and my husband are doing OK, but I know so many people are having a difficult time. I hope my hearts – and my poems – help a little.”

One of the poems read: “This gentle reminder is here to say, You are loved and missed every day!”

Sandra Blades, assistant chief nurse with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, says her team were delighted at the great response to the appeal.

She said: “When Josie’s parcel arrived you could feel there was so much love and thought had gone into her work and the messages were just beautiful.

“It means so much to know you are with us in these difficult times.”

Gil Paterson, MSP for Clydebank said: “It is great to see how a simple idea can engage so many well-minded and compassionate people in the country and through an act of solidarity and expressed love can help those affected most seriously by the coronavirus disease.

“I have to pay special thanks to Josie. As she said, ‘I just wanted to do something to help’.”

The health board is still accepting donations of knitted hearts, which can be sent to ‘From the Heart’ Campaign, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, JB Russell House, Gartnavel Royal site, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH.

Please also include your name and email address or postal address if you don’t have one.