Dementia carers net big donation
Football match brings in the cash
East Kilbride Dementia Carers’ Group have netted a fantastic £910 donation thanks to a charity football match.
Local gym CrossFit East Kilbride organised the game earlier this month and pledged to make it an annual event.
As anyone who knows the Wilson Place gym would expect the fun was in the competition and the gym’s co-owners, Alastair MacKinnon and Simon Thomson, headed up their respective 11-a-side teams.
And while Alastair’s team were the victors by three goals to nil on the pitch, it was the town’s dementia care charity which was the real winner when it was presented with the proceeds from the game.
With £50,000 to raise to keep their wide range of services and support going at their day care centre, coordinator Brian Doig was thrilled with the donation.
At the Pine Crescent centre, staff and volunteers organise a wide range of activities, including reminiscence, arts and crafts, quizzes, music therapy, games, hairdressing, baking, gentle exercises, bingo, dancing and karaoke.
And with their own specially adapted bus, the carers’ group collect and drop off users and regularly take them on outings and excursions.
The group’s own band of volunteers regularly organise fundraisers, from coffee mornings to race nights.
And supporters, many of whom have family members who attend the centre, have run marathons, climbed mountains, taken on cycle challenges.. you name it.. to bring in funds.
“The people who, support us, like CrossFit, are fantastic,” said Brian. “We are so grateful because their efforts help keep us going and make sure we can maintain our day care centre. “We just hope others will join them. “We do not pay fundraisers or fundraising managers.
“Our management committee and directors do not take so much as a penny in expenses, and with our admin being done by volunteers, this means that every penny saved or donated goes in its entirety into providing care and support to people with dementia and their carers.”
Brian and his team would be delighted to hear from any company who might consider making the carers’ group their charity partner and individuals and groups who would like to offer support by organising a fundraiser or making a donation.
Anyone wishing more information about the group can contact Brian on 01355 244123 or visit website at www. dementia carers.co.uk
We are so grateful because their efforts help keep us going and make sure we can maintain our day care centre