LIGHT is now appearing at the end of the Covid tunnel, and I hope all is well with you and your families.

This last year has most certainly given us all a wake-up call and made us realise what is really important in our lives – appreciating and looking after our family, friends, health, and overall wellbeing, all of them things we previously took for granted.

On March 26, legislation came into effect introducing an opt out system of organ and tissue donation. This will add to the package of measures already in place which have led to significant increases in donation and transplantation over the last decade.

In Scotland, there is an average of more than 500 people waiting for an organ transplant at any one time, so it’s important that we do all we can to save and improve the lives of those on the waiting list.

I would encourage people to continue to make a decision about donation, record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss it with their family and friends so they know what you would want to happen. You can find out more at organdonationscotland.org.

I spent much of my time as an MSP working towards making the opt out proposal a reality, campaigning hard and working alongside organ recipients and their families in highlighting the need for change.

I worked tirelessly alongside our colleagues throughout the UK who were fighting hard for the same opt out system to become law.

This was transformative to many in our country, our families our lives - great bill and piece of legislation that affect all in all.

I was fortunate to have a remarkable team of individuals who helped me with this campaign, none more so than the late Theresa Potter.

Theresa was a tireless campaigner for social change, who worked every day of her life in community development making a difference to everyone she came into contact with, she made such a difference to so many.

Theresa sadly passed away suddenly last year with heart failure. She had never been ill in all the years I had known her, she was always so upbeat, so inspirational, and just the most beautiful, caring woman that you could ever wish to meet. Her devastated family now wants to make a difference in her name by raising awareness of the unseen signs and impact of coronary heart disease – especially on women.

Theresa’s son, Craig Potter, is currently running 10km a day every day for 47 days to highlight that 47 people die with cardiovascular diseases in Scotland every day. He will complete his challenge on Theresa’s birthday on May 9.

As well as raising awareness Craig is raising funds for the Heart of Scotland appeal to ensure fewer families in Scotland suffer the loss of a loved one to cardiovascular disease.To find out more about Theresa, and to contribute, go to theresapotter.muchloved.com.

The statistics are really concerning.

· Every year, coronary heart disease, including heart attacks, kills around 2,600 women in Scotland – that’s seven women every day.

· There are currently around 90,000 women in Scotland who are living with coronary heart disease. But too many women are not aware that they are at risk

· 720,000 people in Scotland are living with the daily burden of heart and circulatory diseases.

· In Scotland, coronary heart disease kills almost three times as many women as breast cancer

· Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Scotland

· Death rates from coronary heart disease in Scotland are higher than those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Theresa’s son, Craig Potter is currently undertaking the challenge of a 10k daily run for 47 days to highlight that 47 people die daily in Scotland with cardiovascular diseases. Craig will complete his challenge on 9th May, Theresa’s heavenly birthday.

They are hoping to raise awareness along with much need funds to help the Heart of Scotland Appeal in trying to combat this horrific disease.

Craig has said, ‘In her memory we would like to hand over as much as we possibly can to Heart Research UK, to help them ensure less families in Scotland suffer the loss of a loved one like us. “The goal is to eventually set up two research funds in her memory, one of the research studies will look at the ways women are affected by heart disease and the second research fund will look at statistics that show you are three times more likely to suffer a heart attack in Scotland than you are in London.

“We want to help the charity fund the research into these areas and even though the challenge will be tough, we all know that mum will be with us every step of the way from March 24 until that day that would have been her birthday on May 9.”

You may also know or have known someone like Theresa. Many people have lost loved ones all too soon. It is so important to do all we can to ensure that we have as much quality time as we possibly can we the ones we love.

https://gift.heartresearch.org.uk/onlineshop/

Recognise the symptoms, take the advice, and make a difference to not only your life, but to the lives of your family, friends and loved ones. Stay safe and live life to the fullest.

A huge thank you to Theresa Potter for all the wonderfulness she made for others in life, your time here enhanced many lives and will never be forgotten.

RIP Theresa.

To find out more about Theresa, and to contribute towards the cause. https://theresapotter.muchloved.com/

For further information on Heart Research UK