Scotland should be proud we’re a nation full of so many big-hearted people.
The story of Rachael Nixon, a single mum from Kirkcaldy, Fife, is a case in point. She was devastated in October to learn she’d been struck down by the rare cancer myelofibrosis, an aggressive and deadly bone marrow disease.
Now, in a matter of weeks, more than 2000 people have signed up to try to save Rachael’s life by offering themselves up as potential bone marrow donors. This time of year is all about being generous and kind – and if Rachael can find a donor match, it would be the perfect Christmas present for her and her baby daughter, Daisy.
Her situation must be unimaginably difficult but we hope she can take some comfort in knowing how many people care. And Rachael’s own determination to raise awareness of this cruel disease, and get donor numbers up, is hugely commendable – and could save the lives of others in future.
If you want to know more and potentially join the blood stem cell donor register, you can do so via the blood cancer charity DKMS. We’re full of admiration for everyone who gives up their time and body to these sorts of vital services, including organ and blood donors.
We should think of them all as heroes. At a time of year that’s all about giving, this is the ultimate form of generosity – the kind that can save a life. We pray Rachael and others in need can find the donors they’re looking for this Christmas.
Clothes collection
The clothing we buy and throw away has a big and damaging impact on the planet.
The global toll of our addiction to fast fashion includes a large contribution to worldwide climate emissions – and wastelands of discarded clothes trashing the environment in countries like Ghana. Some Scots will take their old clothes to charity shops, sell them on or give them away, but many still throw them away without thinking.
That’s why the Scottish Government’s idea for kerbside recycling of textiles, on the face of it, isn’t a bad idea at all. Of course, some Scots might be a little exasperated for yet another bin to be added to collections outside their homes.
And Holyrood ministers could do with getting the basics right first – such as sorting out our stagnant household recycling rates and worsening levels of food waste. But clothes and textiles are now an even bigger source of Scotland’s household waste emissions than plastic and action is certainly required.
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