COLLEAGUES of an Inverclyde district nurse who tragically passed away due to coronavirus three years ago have raised thousands of pounds in her memory.

A fantastic fun night was organised by Greenock Health and Care Centre staff in a touching tribute to their former co-worker Janice Graham.

They raised over £5,700 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK in her honour.

Janice became the first Scottish NHS worker to die from Covid-19 when she passed away just over three years ago aged just 58.

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The much-missed health worker’s former colleagues, friends and family recently came together to remember her by organising a night of fun at Greenock’s Cruden Hall.

The event was sponsored by two local firms – Sofa Sleep and Barr’s Cottage Cafe – whose contributions helped covered the catering costs for the event and ensure all the proceeds went to charity.

Greenock Telegraph: Fundraiser in memory of Janice Graham raises more than £5,000

Nursing assistant Dawn Barilli, who helped arrange the fun night, told the Telegraph it had been a big success.

She said: “It went very well, we were really busy.

“Our two sponsors both provided us with around £300 each and that helped with our catering costs, which meant we didn’t need to use any of the funds for those costs.

“Local businesses in Inverclyde were absolutely fantastic.

“I’m really pleased with how things went.

“A lot of Janice’s relatives and close friends came along in addition to district nursing and acute sector stuff.”

Tributes to the much-loved nurse and mum-of-one poured in from people all over Inverclyde when news of her passing broke three years ago.

Her colleagues formed a guard of honour as they applauded the funeral cortege.

Bosses at Greenock Health and Care Centre honoured Janice’s memory in 2021 by naming a wing of the medical facility after her.

Dawn said she and her colleagues were pleased to have gathered together to remember Janice and support a good cause.

She added: “Everyone danced and enjoyed themselves and we had a wee prosecco for Janice.

“We really need to say a big thanks to our two sponsors and everyone else, there were so many people that helped us and it will make such a big difference to this charity.”