Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Dynamic duo glide the Clyde for charity
An Airdrie family duo reached dizzying heights during a charity event in Glasgow.
Daring dad Joseph Donnelly and his stepdaughter Lauren McGugan took part in the ‘Glide the Clyde’ event with a 150ft zip- line across the River Clyde to raise money for the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland ( SBH Scotland) charity.
Joseph’s seven- yearold son, Jack, suffers from hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy.
As part of Team SBH Scotland, the dynamic pair were supported by more than 100 fundraisers, including the charity’s members and families during the two-day challenge, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph.
Joseph and his daughter raised more than £700 and his employer William Grant & Sons agreed to match his funds, with the SBH Scotland team raising over £16,000 for the charity.
The funding will be used to provide personalised home and hospital support for families in Scotland with newborn babies who have spina bifida and/ or hydrocephalus.
Jack has been a member of the charity since he was born, and is part of SBH Scotland’s ‘ Be All You Can Be’ project, set up to promote independence in children and provide intensive support through sensory play.
The youngster also receives one-to-one home support from his dedicated SBH Scotland key worker.
Jack’s mum Joanne Donnelly told the Advertiser : “At first, I struggled to come to terms with Jack’s disabilities and the hospital staff suggested I contact SBH Scotland.
“Straight away, I was given the support I needed to help Joseph and come to terms with everything.
“Their weekly one- toone visits help Jack, but also really help to take the pressure off me – I even get time for a cuppa, something which doesn’t normally happen.
“Jack’s also a big fan of the SBH Scotland groups and because of them he’s really come out of his shell.”
The charity was formed in 1965 by a group of parents who each had a child with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
50 years later, it now supports over 3500 children, young people, adults, their family members and carers across Scotland.
Deborah Roe, SBH Scotland’s fundraising director, said: “We’re so grateful to Joseph, Lauren and this whole group of fundraisers for taking the leap of faith in our 50th year.
“Our charity continues to support all those affected by the lifelong, complex disabilities of hydrocephalus and/ or spina bifida, and every year we have to raise £1million to fund the vital services we offer.
“Challenges like this are crucial to us providing services for another 50 years.”
The charity will be celebrating its golden anniversary this year.
And anyone interested in helping to raise money can visit www.sbhscotland. org.uk or contact the SBH Scotland fundraising team on 03455 211 600 or email fundraising@sbhscotland. org.uk.
We’re so grateful to this whole group of fundraisers