Nancy Blaik

Nancy Blaik, MBE (30 May 1936 – 10 May 2025), charity volunteer and founder of the first children's hospice in Scotland.

Later life and family She married Jack Blaik, a social worker, and in 1977 and had a son Daniel, who was diagnosed at the age of two with Leigh syndrome (subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy) a severe, and progressive, neurological disorder and who was only able to move his eyes and mouth. that led, within six months, to the founding of a Scottish charity on 5 February 1992, that became Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). and Sunday Post newspapers and the MacRobert Trust contributing.

Daniel and the Blaiks were able to visit and benefit from Rachel House for thirteen years, until he died in 2009, aged 31. She continued to engage with the Lothian Births Cohorts studies until she became ill with Lewy body dementia.

Blaik died on 10 May 2025, aged 88. A Benefit Organ Recital in Nancy Blaik's honour was held on 17 October 2025, by Dr John Kitchen, Edinburgh City Organist at Broughton St. Mary's Church, Edinburgh as "both a celebration of music and a reminder of the power of community to carry forward her legacy of care for children, families, and neighbours in need.” and raised funds for CHAS and LifeCare, which supports older people with dementia.