Two Forth Valley hospitals were chosen as part of the route for the 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay. Hundreds of people, including children from the children’s ward and staff carrying tiny babies, watched as Amanda Rutherford, the founder of the Tiny Tabitha Fund, carried the baton through the atrium at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Amanda, who set up the fundraising group after her daughter was born l6 weeks early, has helped raise thousands of pounds for NHS Forth Valley’s Neonatal Unit.

NHS Forth Valley Board Member Julia Swan said: “It was fantastic to welcome The Queen’s Baton Relay to Forth Valley Royal Hospital. I’d like to thank all the staff, patients and visitors who joined us in the atrium to support local baton bearer Amanda Rutherford, especially the young patients from our Children’s Ward. Events like this really bring communities together and everyone was excited to be part of such an important piece of Scottish history.”

The following day it was the turn of patients and staff at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre to see the baton being carried. Patients in beds and wheelchairs, including 99 year old Annie Morton, were taken outside to watch local resident Mitchell Graham pass the baton to Rose McLellan-Dally outside the Centre.