Brother raises sizzling £30k as thank-you to cancer charity
A MAN who lost his brother to cancer has raised more than £30,000 for a charity which helps people with terminal illness.
John Bestow, 58, took up fundraising for Marie Curie in the East End after the charity supported his brother David through the last days of his life.
The Baillieston man lost his 51-year-old brother almost three years ago to lung cancer which later resurfaced in his brain, and since then he has worked tirelessly for the charity who offer their support to families in similar situations.
David explained: “My young brother had passed away. He had cancer and cancer has affected quite a few members of my family.
“We went to the Christmas Memorial Service at the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow and, as a result of going to that, I got speaking to the fundraising manager. I told them I would do whatever I could to help out a wee bit.”
And since then John has done more than help out just “a wee bit”.
For the father-of-two, who is dad to Jack, 17, and Samantha, 13, has raised more than £30,000 in just two and a half years for the charity.
Most of that money was raised through collection tins and the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal.
But he hopes plans for a sponsored firewalk at the hospice on November 30 and a cycle at Glasgow Fort on December 2 will boost that figure even more.
Civil servant John, who is also a part-time carer to his wife Janice, said: “My brother was in the hospice for two weeks and the care he got was exceptional. The people who are working for Marie Curie are very warm towards the families they care for and they are very understanding of their situation.”
John says his efforts have helped pay f or around five days of care at the hospice, which is next to Stobhill Hospital.
He said: “I feel very rewarded and I feel as though I am contributing something.
“Every £20 I raise can also provide an hour of care at home for someone with a terminal illness. So if I take in a collection tin which has £20 in it, that’s me paid for an hour of funding for someone to be cared for at home.”
He added: “To think you are able to contribute end of life care for these people is just immensely satisfying.”
Amanda Casey, who is Marie Curie’s community fundraiser manager, has praised John’s efforts.
She said: “We’re so grateful to John and the members of the Glasgow East Fundraising Group who are so passionate about raising funds to support people living with a terminal illness. It’s a huge amount of money raised in just over two years.”
To find out more about becoming a fundraiser or to take part in the events, visit www.mariecurie.org. uk