Pharmacy porter Jon Rhoden was the definition of modesty after collecting a double win at last night’s Highland Heroes.
The 67-year-old insisted he will be getting the names of fellow finalists Amy Prentice and Rod Chisholm engraved on the healthcare hero award – and he couldn’t quite believe it when he was named hero of heroes.
Jon Rhoden with awards host Nicky Marr. Picture: Callum Mackay
“All I do is run a trolley around the hospital and decorate it,” he said. “They let me get away with a lot of nonsense.”
But sometimes in life it is the little things that make the biggest difference.
For the past five years Jon has given his Raigmore Hospital trolley a seasonal makeover with decorations at Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day and throughout the summer as well as bringing sweets and toys too.
Wee ones particularly love the Nessie hunt where they can search the trolley for baby Nessie and take home their prize!
Other staff at Raigmore also kindly contribute to the trolley with presents for the Children’s Ward.
Jon Rhoden collecting the healthcare trophy from category sponsor Eastgate Shopping Centre’s Jon Carter. Picture: Callum Mackay
This week it is adorned with knitted Easter bunnies and carries choccy eggs alongside the patients’ much-needed medication.
And here’s where Jon needs convincing he is deserving of any accolade – because these patients are perhaps going through the most challenging time of their life. That’s where the odd decoration, treat or knitted whatnot can raise a smile that may be the bright spot in a dark period.
As we discussed this, Jon said: “Do you know what? Today, I was going to deliver the pharmacy stuff to one of the wards. And there was an older lady sitting outside the room in a chair. The front of the trolley was all decorated with Easter bunnies and chicks plus Easter eggs for people to take. So I was walking along and the nurse was sitting beside her outside the room and she said: ‘Oh, that’s pretty.’
“So I stopped and said: ‘Take whatever you want.’ You know, the eggs and stuff and she pulled out a little white bunny. And I thought, that’s the decorations. That’s the props. But didn’t have the heart to say put it back.
“Then when I went back about two hours later to deliver more stuff she was sitting stroking the bunny and I thought bless her.”
Jon Rhoden collecting the hero of heroes trophy from category sponsor Highland Broadband’s Kyle Mackay. Picture: Callum Mackay
The Inverness resident – who is a cancer survivor – would never describe himself as a hero but his kindness and generosity has brought cheer to countless patients in our communities.
“All I’m guilty of is injecting a bit of fun into the job ‒ there’s nothing heroic about that,” he declared.
“I remember the trolley looked a little bit sad, and it was coming up to Christmas. And I thought, I’m going to add a few lights to it. You know, and it sort of perked up from then onwards.”
Jon Rhoden says a few words on stage alongside awards host Nicky Marr.
Jon was among more than a dozen other winners – all who he probably thought deserved the top prize more than him.
“Some of the people we heard about here, my word!” he said. “I mean you don’t hear about a lot of these people but when you hear what they have been up to or done, you think, hats off to them. Thank God for people like that.”
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