Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
McGuigans all so magnificent
The magnificent McGuigan family from Plains have plenty to celebrate after their latest fundraiser took their running total for charity to more than £75,000.
Led by husband and wife John and Maureen McGuigan, along with their three children, six grandchildren, siblings and extended family, the energetic group staged a fun- filled evening in their home village of Plains in support of cancer research programmes at Glasgow University.
They collected a grand total of more than £ 4000 from the disco and karaoke event at St David’s hall, which included a grand prize raffle plus a buffet for the 180 guests in attendance; and a special pre-birthday surprise for Maureen.
It took their combined fundraising for cancer research projects over a period of 14 years through the landmark £ 75,000 barrier, to the delight of the family and representatives from the University of Glasgow Trust and its Paul O’Gorman leukaemia research centre.
University Trust staff visited the McGuigans’ family home this week to collect the latest bumper cheque – and have even now named a summer scholarship after the fundraising family.
John and Maureen’s daughter, Lorna Clarke, told the Advertiser: “It was a great event; local businesses and family, friends and people from surrounding areas all got behind us and gave raffle prizes.
“It was great seeing everybody we know at one event, and everybody is so generous – we raised even more this year than last, and we know it’s not easy for people to give every year so we really appreciate all the support.
The McGuigans began fundraising in 2003 – four years after John, now 65, had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and successfully treated thanks to a bone marrow transplant from younger brother Jamie.
For 12 years they took part in an annual “bikeathon” in Glasgow, assembling a team of up to 80 participants; before changing their fundraising focus last year to the social event in their home area.
Lorna said: “We just like to give back and decided to start a new event last year to carry on our fundraising.
“My dad is in remission which is good news.
“He spent a lot of time in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and was lucky to have a transplant match within the family.
“Staff from the university is delighted.
“They couldn’t believe what we continue to raise every year, and we just want to carry on and keep it all going.
“They’ve recognised our fundraising over the years and has created a summer scholarship named ‘ Team McGuigan’, which means students are funded to work with technicians in the labs and help with research projects at the Paul O’Gorman centre.”
The event took place just days before Maureen’s 65th birthday, and Lorna added: “We presented her with a cake and flowers at the charity night, presented by her grandchildren.
“It was nice to celebrate the occasion with everyone from the family and the village being there.
“She really loved it and was quite emotional about the whole thing.”
Glasgow University development officer Cat her in eMcG rory thanked the family for their continuing efforts, telling the Advertiser: “The McGuigans have raised £75,592 in total, and their donations help scientists develop vital leukaemia research.
“Scientists at the Paul O’Gorman centre have recently made a breakthroug.
“Working in partnership with the University of Manchester, they’ve recently discovered an ‘Achilles heel’ of CML.
“They have found drugs to successfully target this weakness and eradicate the disease in laboratory models; these results have potential implications for other cancers including acute myeloid leukaemia and brain tumours.”