MilesTone arrives

Fundraiser on tragic Liam’s 30th birthday

But for Carolann Patterson, it will be a time for reflection and wondering what might have been.

The Fintry mum, 56, lost her son Liam Connelly in 2010 at the age of 23.

Liam walked into the path of a truck on the A90 near his home, taking his own life.

Tomorrow would have been his 30th birthday and the thought of the event has played “heavily” on the minds of Liam’s loved ones of late.

And although Carolann admitted that the pain of losing Liam will “never ease”, she is preparing to make something positive out of it — as she looks forward to a fundraising event i n his memory at the Ambassador pub tomorrow night.

The mum-of-three told the Tele why she wants to help an organisation which works in the field of mental illness.

She said: “We have been discussing Liam’s birthday since last year.

“We decided we wanted to try to raise money for Scottish Association for Mental Health, as Liam was battling schizophrenia.

“We have never celebrated his birthday in this manner and my stomach is in knots, but we are hoping we can raise money for a worthwhile cause.”

Liam is said to have excelled during his education at Braeview Academy, before he left aged 16 to start an apprenticeship at college as an electrician.

But his family started to notice a change after he went to college and started to smoke cannabis, which they believed triggered his illness.

She said: “He started to fall in with the wrong crowd and we noticed small changes in him and we knew something wasn’t right.

“Initially doctors thought he was just going through a phase as a teenager.

“My daughter Danielle looked on the computer and we knew he had similar symptoms to someone suffering from schizophrenia.”

Liam was referred to doctors where he was diagnosed with the condition and prescribed drugs to help him battle his mental health issues.

Carolann said: “When he initially went on the drugs in 2008 we did see a change in his behaviour but then he started refusing to take the drugs.”

The biggest issue the family faced whilst becoming his primary carers was trying to stop the drug dealers who were providing Liam with substances such as ‘bubbles’. She added: “He never took anything like heroin but it was terrible seeing his come down from the effect of the bubbles. We thought he was having a heart attack. “Ian, Liam’s father, had tried to go round to dealers in the areas to stop them supplying him.” The family’s attempts to help Liam battle his illness was becoming increasingly difficult and Liam attempted to take his life by walking in front of a taxi. She added: “When I got the call saying something had happened with Liam the day he walked in front of the lorry, I knew something worse had happened. “I still remember seeing the line of traffic when I was driving home.” Tomorrow’s event, which includes a race night, disco and raffle, starts at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

FOR most people, celebrating a loved one’s milestone birthday is a happy occasion.