A tireless and “inspirational” cancer charity champion from the Isle of Lewis has died just weeks after being awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours.
Scores of people are expected to attend the funeral of Kay Mackay tomorrow.
Mrs Mackay, 76. was recognised in this year’s Queen’s honours for over 35 years service with the Cancer Research UK Isle of Lewis Committee.
Thanks to her leadership and passion for the cause, said her award citation, the Lewis group now raises more than any other Cancer Research UK committee in Scotland.
She died in the early hours of Sunday. Mrs Mackay is survived by her husband Jackie, their twin sons Gregor and Roger and her brother Malcolm.
The committee’s Facebook page said it was “a very sad day for us as we remember very fondly our dear Cancer Research chairperson, Kay Mackay.
“Kay was respected and loved by the Committee and her constant motivation to fundraise for CRUK was inspirational.
“Our thoughts are with Jackie, Gregor, Roger, Sophie and her brother Malcolm at this time.”
Her wake is tonight at St Columba’s Church of Scotland in Stornoway at 9pm. The funeral will be at St Columba’s at 1.30pm on Thursday with a funeral reception in the Caladh Inn, Stornoway, after the procession.
“We’d love to see you to say goodbye to a special lady and to celebrate her wonderful life,” wrote her family on Facebook.
Mrs Mackay joined the Cancer Research UK Isle of Lewis Local Committee in 1980. After leaving a successful career in nursing in the 1990s, she decided to utilise her natural leadership skills and took on the role of chair of the committee.
Under her leadership the committee has increased its annual fundraising from £2,000 in the 1980s to over £70,000 in 2013/14. It is thanks to her dedication and leadership that the committee’s total contribution to Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research is now more than £1m.
Mrs Mackay was widely recognised as the driving force behind the committee’s hugely successful fundraising activities.
She also increased committee membership to 35 active and dedicated women who are equally passionate about raising funds for Cancer Research UK.