The charity which runs the Robin House children’s hospice in Balloch has launched its 2021 festive fundraising appeal.

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The organisation offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.

Among the families receiving support from the charity was Gemma Munro and Andrew Couper who lost their beloved baby daughter, Georgia on June 7, 2021.

Georgia was born on April 28, 2021, at 25 weeks and 6 days and spent most of her short life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Edinburgh before finally CHAS provided dedicated end-of-life care.

Gemma said: "We went through the worst time in our life but it was made a little easier having the right support around us, we can’t thank CHAS enough for their ongoing support.

"We returned for a visit to Rachel House on Georgia’s due date and walked around the gardens, had a cuppa and saw some of the staff.

"It was nice for us as Georgia’s parents to go back to somewhere Georgia had been, brought some peace and made that day a little easier.

"We are so grateful to all the staff at the Neonatal Unit for taking care of Georgia during her hard journey and also to Rachel House for making us feel so welcome.

"They went above and beyond to make sure Georgia’s final hours were peaceful as can be for both her and us as parents. They have been amazing, showing so much love and support to us as a family and we will be forever grateful to CHAS."

To find out more about CHAS, and to donate, go to www.chas.org.uk.