East Kilbride woman decorates home with Christmas lights for charity

Ruth Moore is raising vital funds for East Kilbride & District Dementia Carers Group with the stunning spectacle at her house on Bosfield Place.  

Ruth, who has decorated her home to raise money for various charities for around 10 years, started the tradition in memory of her dad William who passed away 15 years ago.

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The 51-year-old said: "My birthday is on the first of December and my dad used to always put up the decorations for my birthday and that was the highlight of my birthday every year.

"I lost my dad 15 years ago, so I continued putting the Christmas stuff up in my own house on my birthday in memory of him and then I started decorating outside and it just got bigger and bigger over the years."

She added: "My mum’s been my inspiration, she used to raise money for charity over the years by making tablet and doing raffles.

"When I put my lights on I look up and I think to myself ‘where are you dad’ and if he was still alive it would put his OCD over the edge with all these plugs and lights so I have a wee laugh to myself and say ‘this is for you Da, I hope you can see it’."

Ruth decided to raise money for East Kilbride & District Dementia Carers Group this year because she believes their work is "priceless".

The charity is run by a voluntary management committee and provides personalised care for people with dementia and support for carers.

Ruth explained: "This is the second time I’ve done it for East Kilbride Dementia and the reason why is because both myself and my husband are carers and we work with elderly with dementia and the group runs on charity solely, so because of Covid and the last couple of years not being able to fundraise as much, I thought I would do it for them because it’s such a valuable day centre, there’s nothing else like it in South Lanarkshire.

"It's amazing the set up of it and what they do, it’s priceless and I think if it was my mum or dad I would love them to be looked after like that, it’s outstanding."

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Ruth Moore and her mum Gloria Miller (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

So far, Ruth has raised more than £600 between her GoFundMe page, a birthday fundraiser and a collection bucket outside her house, but she is hoping to raise £1000.

She said: "It’s absolutely phenomenal, I’m overwhelmed by it, to be honest, the kindness of people has been so lovely.

"I know it’s hard times for people so I didn’t expect it to be as good as what it is but I think the reason the response is [so good] is that there are so many people who experience their family members with dementia and Alzheimer’s so they know how valuable this day centre is."

In recognition of her fundraising efforts over the last 10 years, which has seen Ruth raise around £10,000 in total, she recently received an Early Day Motion (EDM) from MP Dr Lisa Cameron.

She said: "I was totally flabbergasted, it was lovely.

"But I don’t do it for thanks, I do it to save spaces and make people happy, that makes me happy."

Ruth, who suffers from long Covid after catching the virus a couple of years ago, will end her career as a home carer in January and has thanked her family and friends for their support.

She said: "It was my two friends, Keida Mackenzie and Steph Ferrans, that came round and put [the Christmas lights] all up for me because I just wasn’t fit enough to do it in the last few years and if it wasn’t for them, they wouldn’t have been up this year."

A spokesperson for East Kilbride & District Dementia Carers Group said: "A combination of restrictions, reduced service provision and all fundraising events being cancelled during lockdown resulted in the charity losing over £19,500 last year and a deficit is predicted again this year as we are only now able to resume our own fundraising events.

"Whilst these losses are not sustainable long term, support from the Robertson Trust and reserves built up prior to lockdown to see the Group through emergencies have done just that and the Group is now looking forward with renewed enthusiasm and confidence.

"The community is rallying around and supporting us, as can be seen by the fantastic work that Ruth is doing in supporting us through her Birthday Donations and Christmas Lights display.

"That is not only generating essential income but helping to keep us in the public eye and let people know that we are here to support the community that is helping to support us.

"There are so many deserving and worthy causes and Ruth has supported many different ones over the years, so we are truly honoured that she has invested so much time, energy and passion into supporting us.

"Ruth and her family epitomise the true spirit of Christmas – selfless giving whilst spreading love and happiness."

Ruth's house on Bosfield Place is lit up from 5pm to 8pm nightly.

You can view her GoFundMe HERE.