The £7.5million new Highland Hospice reached a major milestone at the weekend as the first foundations were laid.
Orion Group chairman, Alan Savage, was given the honour of laying the first stone of the long-awaited building after the Inverness business kindly donated £1.25million to the project.
The facility – on Inverness’s riverside – will be an upgraded and enlarged version of the former inpatient unit which had served the Highlands for more than 26 years.
The old site was only half the size that current guidelines demand and was in need of an upgrade.
Mr Savage said that giving back to the community you work and live in is something all businesses should aim to do.
“I felt that some of my company’s profits should be put into the community,” he said.
“The Highland Hospice is a crucially important facility for patients with cancer and other terminal illnesses and their families in our area.
“It’s a privilege to be in the fortunate position to be able to make a donation towards the new building, which will help the Hospice, Marie Curie and the Macmillan nurses to deliver a range of services for people affected by these terrible diseases.”
The milestone came as the hospice’s public appeal, Project Build, passed £3.5million in donations.
However, it is still £1million short of its target of £4.5million.
The rest of the funds will come from hospice reserves.
Hospice chief executive Kenny Steele said: “This is such an important step in the future of Highland Hospice, but as big a milestone as this is, it’s important to remember we still have £1million to raise over the next year to help us create the best possible home for our patients and their families.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support shown so far, and I would urge anyone who feels they could support us in this final push of our appeal to please get in touch.”
Hospice services are currently based at temporary locations while building work takes place in Inverness.
The inpatient unit is based in the Fyrish Ward of Invergordon’s County Community Hospital, while the day services and bereavement support team are based in Laxford House in the Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness.