Milton view Outstanding youngsters
Dear Editor I write to your page to let the wider community know about the joy experienced by the people who attended The Memories Tearoom last Thursday afternoon in Gilmour and Whitehill Parish Church in Burnbank.
The main reason for this joy was the presence of wonderful children and young adults from our local schools.
Jimmy Stubbs brought along a very talented group of young adults from Calderside Academy who sang and played instruments to a very high standard. Their performance was first class, as was their appearance.
We were also privileged to have representatives from the sixth year at St John Ogilvie High School, who came along to mingle and chat. These young adults were polite, wellmannered and showed great respect for everyone. They too looked very smart in their school uniforms.
Added to all this, we had children from St Cuthbert’s Primary School who manned a cake stall in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and who also charmed everyone with their smiling faces and tremendous outpouring of love.
Our older generation sang and danced and smiled as the music brought back memories of days gone by.
In this day and age when young people don’t really get a good press I feel it is so important to acknowledge them.
I would also take this opportunity to thank all who have an input to their education.
The Memories Tearoom provides an essential meeting place for those who live with dementia and their carers. Thanks to all who volunteer their services. You are all working together and Together We Can Make A Difference to the lives of many.
Anne Paul Via email Dear readers
As you will all know, last month I ran the Hamilten 10k to raise money for Eilidh Mchugh’s Beatson Fund.
In March 2017, I met the Mchugh family in the most tragic circumstances.
Their 22-year-old daughter Eilidh had sadly passed away after a short battle with cancer.
Ever since then, almost every week, I have kept in touch with the Mchughs as they continue to raise funds in Eilidh’s name and keep her memory alive.
When I heard that Hamilton was hosting its first ever 10k I decided to take part and I would do it for Eilidh’s Beatson Fund.
As I had never been into running before, I set my target at £500 but I am beyond thrilled to say that I am so close to smashing the £2000 mark!
When I began training the donations just kept flooding in and I honestly cannot thank everyone enough for their kindness - I am totally blown away!
People that I don’t even know have donated crazy amounts of money to the page and even on the day of the race I had some of our readers come up to give me a donation.
It was nice to speak to some of our readers on the day of the race who had been following my story and I also got to meet with some of Team Eilidh for the first time as we had some photographs taken and a blether at the starting line.
Of course, it was tough going. There were points during the run that I thought ‘I can’t do this!’ But then I had to remind myself what I was there for and think of all the money I had raised for such a wonderful cause.
Crossing the finish line was such a feeling, seeing all my family and friends in the crowds cheering actually reduced me to tears!
But it was a feeling I will never forget and one that has spurred me on to sign up for the Great Scottish Run half marathon next September!
Am I mad? Possibly. Will it be worth it? Absolutely! So the training for that starts now!
I just want to thank every single person who took part in the Hamilten 10k, everyone who donated, everyone who has sent me lovely emails and also to the Hamilton BID for making it all happen and helping me catch the running bug!
But most of all I would like to thank Team Eilidh for all their support once again. I am proud to be part of something so special.
Kirsten Mcstay Hamilton Advertiser reporter with sore legs