Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Swing and a hit as restaurant fun day raises more than £2000 for charities
JUDITH TONNER
Star guests joined the line-up for a special fun day, barbecue and golf tournament which raised more than £ 2000 to be shared between two local charities.
Families and supporters turned out in force with hundreds attending the successful event at Bizzi Izzi’s restaurant, based at Lochview golf centre on Townhead Road.
Musician Warren Capaldi sang live, while there were also performances by singer Sean Lynch and from Radio Lanarkshire – and in attendance were River City stars Therese Bradley and Steven Purdon, celebrity chef Guy Cowan and Monklands radio host Ross Owen.
A total of 36 golfers took to the Lochview course to compete for the inaugural Bizzi Izzi’s trophy, won by Tam Wilkie; with the grand total of funds raised being split between St Andrew’s Hospice and MS Scotland.
Bizzi Izzi’s owner Isabella Seth called the event a “wonderful day” and said: “It was one of our biggest and best fundraisers and raised an amazing amount to be shared between two great charities.”
Opening the event was a special procession led by bagpiper Craig Lawrie and “star of the show” Amy Reid, 10.
The Coatbridge youngster had battled cancer since the age of three, and Isabella said: “We really wanted her there and she was the main star; I know her mum, who’s told me all about her over the years, and it was so emotional to have Amy leading everybody in.”
Amy was also joined by singers Warren Capaldi and Sean Lynch to cut a cake marking a belated first birthday to the restaurant, which opened in April 2018.
Isabella added: “There were hundreds of people there and we had loads of things to do including falconry displays, vintage police cars, a bouncy castle, dog obstacle course, beat the goalie, clairvoyant readings and a beautiful craft fayre.
“All of the golfers were fantastic – they’ve been fabulous since the restaurant opened and can’t support me enough.
“They got together and decided to play a match to raise funds; and the trophy will now be played for annually so the hospice and other charities will benefit every year.”
Supplies for the barbecue were donated by AML Foods and Morton’s Rolls, while the event was also supported by organisations including Cubis Castles, Alba Falconry, 1st Coatbridge Boys’ Brigade and Catch the Glitterbug.
Isabella and husband Harry also thanked their event assistants Elaine Clydesdale and Alison and Frank McEvoy, the staff of Bizzi Izzi’s, trophy and T-shirt sponsor Workwear Station, photographer Billy Rice and all the many others who contributed to the success of the fundraiser.
She said: “There were months of planning, and I want to thank all who donated and who walked through the gates and dug deep on the day.
“We always choose charities to support which mean a lot to us; we wanted to support MS for our friend Derek Melville, and the hospice has looked after people close to us.
“I don’t think people can believe how much the hospices need to make each week, so we’re pleased to be able to help them – and we’re already planning our next fundraiser, which will be at Christmas and be for St Andrew’s and Spirit Aid.”