A CARING nurse gave up birthday presents for her big 60th bash to ask for donations to charity instead in a touching tribute to her late mum and dad.

Cath O'Hara, a community nurse who was a ward sister for 30 years at J South in Inverclyde Royal, held a party at the Clyde Suite and decided to help good causes.

She raised £600 and has donated it to Cancer Research UK, as she sadly lost both her mum Margaret and dad Malcolm to cancer.

Cath, who is based at Greenock Health Centre, said: "My mum died during lockdown and she always said she wanted her funeral to be a big party with lots of singing.

"There were only 20 of us allowed in the church due to the Covid rules so I was determined to have a party for my birthday and a celebration for everyone - but I didn't want to ask for presents.

"I am absolutely delighted with what we raised for cancer research.

"It was a great night and a lovely way to catch up with family and friends.

"Some of my colleagues have retired, so I managed to catch up people I had not seen for a couple of years.

"As they had left during lockdown we couldn't have a get together for them when they left.

"So this was a time for everyone to celebrate.

"I even met up with a colleague, Barbara Gibson, who I'd worked with when I was an enrolled nurse in 1982."

The choice of charity is close to Cath's heart as her dad Malcolm also passed away from cancer, aged 67, back in 1994.

Cath, who is a cousin of former councillor Jim MacLeod, is married to Joe and the couple have a daughter Katie, 27, and son Michael, 30.

She has dedicated 42 years of her life caring for people as a nurse and said she wouldn't change any of it for the world.

She said: "I absolutely loved my time at Inverclyde Royal and as a district nurse out in the community.

"I was going to retire at 60 and do some bank shifts.

"Then I heard about Retire and Return, which allows you to come back to do half your hours - so I do three days one week and two days the next.

"I feel I still have a lot to offer."

Cath admits that the pandemic was a challenge but says she felt honoured to be able to help people and their families during such a tough time.

She said: "People didn't want to go into hospital - more people chose to stay at home for end of life care because visitors couldn't get into the hospital to see them.

"It is a privilege to be invited into someone's home to care for them."