A Significant Milestone
On Monday, February 24th, we proudly marked a significant milestone, 25 years of the Moira Anderson Foundation. It has been 68 years since Moira’s disappearance, and while her memory remains at the heart of everything we do, we are incredibly proud that our charity has grown to support over 9,000 survivors of childhood sexual abuse since 2000.
Our Silver Jubilee celebration was a touching and heartfelt event. Charity founder Sandra Brown OBE welcomed guests, reflecting on the journey that has brought us to this point, a journey that has not always been easy, but one that has been filled with resilience, hope, and unwavering dedication.
As part of the commemoration, Sir Tom Clarke, alongside our International Ambassador Matthew McVarish, planted a miniature silver birch tree in Moira’s memory. This tree now stands proudly beside a beautiful memorial stone in Memorial Garden, that officially opened last at our Airdrie premises. Every plant in this garden has been carefully chosen to embody the spirit of Moira, reflect the values of MAF, and symbolize the strength and bravery of our clients. A special thank you to Edna Doran, who selected this meaningful tree, we hope to watch it grow and flourish, just as we continue to grow in our mission to help survivors.
From left to right: Sandra Brown, Gillian Urquhart, Sheena Pollock, Sir Tom Clarke
A Truly Special Day
The event was filled with powerful words and heartfelt moments. Sir Tom Clarke’s speech deeply resonated with all in attendance, as did Matthew McVarish’s tribute, speaking on behalf of the thousands of survivors who have found support through MAF.
Chriss Mills provided wonderful music, and of course, no celebration would be complete without cake, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
We were honored to be joined by representatives from various agencies who continue to support our mission. Among those celebrating with us were, Treasurer Sheena Pollock, Fulton MacGregor MSP (former Trustee), and Helena Rameckers from the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.
These are just the highlights of a truly special day! Stay tuned as we share more about the event and reflect on the incredible work MAF has done over the years in the coming posts.
Our Volunteers and Incredible Staff
A heartfelt thank you to our volunteers who care for the garden and to our incredible staff, who keep MAF’s mission at the heart of their work every single day.
Here’s to 25 years of making a difference and to many more years ahead, standing strong for survivors.
