2025-05-14T08:09:38+00:00

Thousands raised at nurse's party night

A recently qualified nurse with a deep connection to Roxburghe House has gone above and beyond to support the vital work of Friends of Roxburghe House, raising an incredible £7,000 through a successful fundraising evening.

Milla Roy, who completed a placement at the specialist palliative care unit during her RGU nursing degree, organised the event at the Douglas Hotel on a Saturday night last month (April).

For Milla, now a staff nurse at NHS Grampian, her three-month placement at Roxburghe House between November 2023 and February 2024 left an indelible mark.

Initially drawn to palliative and oncology care, the experience sparked her passion for this demanding but rewarding field.

“Many people had said to me that it would be a sad place to work,” Milla, pictured below, explained.

“Which of course it is in some ways, but I found that when you flip the perspective to making others comfortable, happy and doing everything the way that they want in their final days, it makes it less sad - and more rewarding and comforting.

“Roxburghe House is just above and beyond in so many ways because in a lot of places nowadays, time is an issue and everything feels rushed. At Roxburghe it doesn’t. What the patient wants and needs is the absolute core of everything and that’s how it should be.”

Inspired by the exceptional level of care and patient-centred approach she witnessed, Milla felt compelled to give back to the organisation that supports Roxburghe House.

Planning for the fundraising evening began in September last year, testament to Milla's proactive nature and commitment. The event itself was a spirited affair, featuring a raffle, food, drinks and a DJ, creating a lively atmosphere to put attendees in the mood to contribute to a worthy cause.

Family support

Milla credits her mother’s invaluable support during the planning stages, helping her by collecting raffle prizes and distributing leaflets. On the day, her father, stepmother, sister and partner all pitched in with the set-up and decoration at the Douglas, highlighting her strong network of support. The overwhelming success of the evening, raising over £7,000, surpassed Milla's initial expectations.

“To everyone that came and helped I would say thank you so much," said Milla.

“I never thought I could pull off such a successful night with so many people there. I was stressed about selling tickets and the thought of no one wanting to come so when I started to get a huge interest, I was completely overwhelmed.

“I appreciate everything people did. No matter how big or small the donation, it all counts in the number that we reached and the donation that Roxburghe receives."

The impact of Milla's incredible fundraising efforts will be felt directly by Friends of Roxburghe House, enabling them to continue providing crucial support to patients and their families.

Dedication and hard work

Barbara Manson, chairman of Friends of Roxburghe House, said: “We are delighted and incredibly grateful for Milla's amazing fundraising achievement. Her dedication and hard work in organising such a successful event are truly inspiring.

“The funds raised will make a real difference to the comfort and well-being of patients and their families as they go through a very difficult time. Milla's connection to Roxburghe House and her desire to give back speaks volumes about the compassionate individuals who work and support the unit.”

Looking ahead, Milla is currently thriving in her role at ward 111 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, embracing the diverse learning opportunities. However, her experience at Roxburghe House has firmly shaped her career aspirations.

“I’d love to eventually work within palliative care or oncology,” she said.

“I’d love to get my chemotherapy training and work in clinics administering that as well, I think that would be very interesting. But I’m pretty confident that I will end up working somewhere like Roxburghe House. I would love to go back there to work one day."

While the fundraising event is now complete, Milla reflects on the experience with pride and a touch of wistfulness.

“It was over in the blink of an eye but I am very grateful and proud - and I love telling people about it.

“I’m also sad it’s over as I had so much fun organising and hosting it. I feel a little lost now without that side task! I do plan to do many more but I’ll definitely have a break inbetween.”

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