Freemasons are cheque mates
Delighted charities get £1000 each
Four local charities have benefited from the generosity of Stonehouse freemasons and their friends.
Bros David and Douglas Baxter, Aidan Pattie, Craig Mcdonald, Alan Mcluckie, James and Callum Macgregor, Bobby Ewing, David Wilson and Willie Cowie successfully completed the 96-mile West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William earlier this year.
They were joined on the five-day trek by Aidan’s brother Blair and girlfriend Nadia, as well as David Baxter’s wife Lynn and daughter Fiona.
Thanks to sponsorship from family, friends and other masons, a whopping £7000 was raised, with £4000 of it going to four local charities.
David Baxter said: “It was a hard slog and we were doing about 20 miles per day. We had a few hairy moments.
“David Wilson ended up in the hospital one night after problems with his heel but we made it through.
“Douglas and Fiona both work for Lidl so they were fundraising for the STV Children’s Appeal and we managed to raise the rest.”
Representatives from the Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust, the Lockhart Unit at Stonehouse Hospital, mental health charity the Hope Café Stonehouse, and the Jubilee Club, which supports dementia sufferers and their families, gathered at Stonehouse Masonic Hall recently to receive their £1000 cheques.
Alan added: “It was great to be able to hand over such a large amount to all of the charities.
“The main thing for us was that it was charities which make difference to the people in the village that benefited from the money.”