Cowboys and Indians will take a walk on the Wild West side

Charity trek will benefit blood cancer charity

There will be a strong ‘Yeeha’ element to an annual charity walk that’s being undertaken by a group of good friends this weekend.

A group of cowboys and indians will be spotted as they leave St Peter’s Men’s Club for a 10-mile return walk all the way to Johnstone.

They are doing the fancy dressthemed sponsored event in the fight against cancer for Myeloma UK. Helping organise the event is Jennifer McMaster, 48, of Glenburn, whose sister Christine McLachlan, 51, was diagnosed with Myeloma, which is a blood cancer, more than three years ago.

Jennifer will be one of a group of 10 hardy walkers who will take part in the fun event.

She said: “We’ll be leaving St Peter’s Men’s Club at noon on Saturday and walking to Johnstone and back.

“We’ve all got sponsor sheets and I’ve got about £250 pledged at the moment. And they’re doing a raffle for us at Kennedy’s pub in Causeyside Street.”

And the coffers of Myleoma UK have been given a real boost since Jennifer and her friends started doing the walks a few years ago.

“I would say we’ve raised about £6,000 in total,” she said.

Also supporting Myeloma UK is Christine’s husband Christopher and her children Lauren, 21, and Heather, 17, who have all been involved in fundraising activities.

Doctors tested Christine for myeloma after she suffered a series of infections following surgery.

The cancer arises from plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell made in the bone marrow.

Plasma cells form part of your immune system and produce antibodies to help fight infection.

In myeloma, these plasma cells become abnormal, multiply uncontrollably and release only one type of antibody, which has no useful function.

Jennifer said everyone is looking forward to the walk. “It will be a fun event,” she said. “Not doom and gloom at all.”