MAIRI O’Keefe is to stand down as chief executive of Leuchie House after 15 years at the helm of the national respite centre.

Mrs O’Keefe, 62, has led the charity, based on the outskirts of North Berwick, since 2003 when it was operated by the MS Society, and subsequently since its formation as an independent charity from 2011.

In the past seven years, Mrs O’Keefe and her team have been responsible for securing £4.5 million in grants from trust funds and donations from generous members of the public, as well as support from the Scottish Government.

This has enabled the charity to deliver more than 33,000 respite nights since setting up as an independent charity.

In 2017, Leuchie House supported people with more than 35 different conditions to benefit from short breaks with 24-hour care.

The North Berwick resident, who will be leaving in November, said: “Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about Leuchie House and the very special service we provide.

“It was always going to be difficult to step down, but I know I can do so feeling proud of everything we’ve achieved.

“I’ve been honoured to experience on a daily basis just how much of a difference Leuchie makes to all the hundreds of families we support every year.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to my team – staff and volunteers – for all their support and commitment. I will miss them, our guests, and everyone else involved with Leuchie very much.”

Sir David Tweedie, chairman of Leuchie House Trustees, said: “In 2010 when Leuchie House was faced with closure, Mairi’s deep concern for those in need of respite and for their carers led her to launch the ‘Save Leuchie’ campaign.

“By sheer force of personality she secured the support of Scottish and UK politicians, the media and the general public, generating sufficient backing to set Leuchie up as an independent charity.

“Mairi’s legacy is the happiness and relief she has brought to so many families by her dedication and compassion.

“The board wishes her all the best in her well-deserved retirement and looks forward to working with our magnificent staff team as we look to the future.

“We are delighted that Mairi has agreed to continue her connection with Leuchie by joining Gavin Hastings as a patron of Leuchie House.”

Mrs O’Keefe will be replaced by Mark Bevan, most recently chief executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

(SCDI).

but resigned in August.

And Mr Tweedie added: “Mark has held senior positions in both the care sector and in public policy and the board looks forward to working with him as we all seek to build on the great legacy left by Mairi.”