Schoolgirl’s birthday tribute in memory of a ‘very special girl’

Nov 6 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A BIG-HEARTED Hamilton schoolgirl sacrificed birthday gifts this year in order to pay a fitting tribute to a friend who died in May.

Hollie Marwick-Best, a Hamilton College pupil, asked friends and family to support her by donating cash, instead of gifts, to children’s charity CHAS, which provided care for fellow pupil Kim Gardiner.

Kim, who was from Lanark, died at the age of 12 when she lost her fight against cancer.

During her time at the college, she excelled academically and was elected president of the pupil council by her classmates and volunteered as a buddy to support and guide younger children.

Kim’s English teacher Jane Cook paid tribute to the youngster.

She said: “She was very determined to be an active member of the school and never took any shortcuts. She was determined to maintain her attendance and homework to the very best of her ability, despite the constant physical exhaustion she was fighting against.”

Hollie organised her own birthday party and asked everyone to come in fancy dress.

She turned her party into a fund-raising evening and renamed her birthday as ‘Night for Kim’.

On her invitation Hollie asked everyone “to make a special effort in memory of a very special girl”.

The party raised a fantastic £625 which will be added to Hamilton College’s fund-raising efforts for CHAS.

Last week, three S3 pupils from the school held a cake sale.

Nadia Faccenda, Kirsten Bhatti and Hannah Wilson (all S1 pupils) organised the event.

Eager students snapped up the home baking and they raised £200.

The girls also plan to organise a sponsored walk later in the year.