John and Isabel happy to get in a spin for hospice
Couple raise thousands with bowling fundaisers
Staff at St Vincent’s Hospice have been bowled over by the generosity of members and friends of a Houston sports club.
Since 2006, Isabel and John Gilchrist, from Houston, have been organising an annual Ladies Bowls competition at the John G Fleming Bowling Club in the village.
This year, two events raised a more than £4,000 for the charity.
At the first competition, 64 ladies attended, with guests invited to take part in the raffle or buy some delicious home baking. A whopping £3,350 was raised.
Their second event, a cabaret evening, raised another £850 for the Howwood hospice.
In recent years, the couple has raised an amazing £ 7,965 for St Vincent’s Hospice.
Isabel and John said: “The last two months have been hectic planning the various events.
“However, it is all so very worthwhile when we see the support we get from local businesses and from members and friends of the bowling club in Houston.
“We would like to say a huge thanks to CPA Engineered Solutions, based in Shotts, for its very generous sponsorship of the bowls competition.
“We’d also like to thank the many local businesses for their very kind donations including The Fox and Hounds, The River Inn, Carriages in Kilmacolm, The Houston Inn, The Coach House in Bridge of Weir, The Paper Shop in Houston, Anderson Bakers and Tulip Hair Salon, both in Bridge of Weir, Gaynor at Aurora in Johnstone, So Beauty and Roots, both Linwood, and to the many individuals who gave personal donations towards the cause.”
Hospice fundraiser Laura McDade also thanked the couple for their tireless fundraising efforts.
She said: “We want to thank everyone who took part in the bowls competition, everyone who donated a prize, purchased a raffle ticket or supported in any way.
“Most importantly, all of us at St Vincent’s owe a huge thanks to John and Isabel, who work tirelessly every year to make their events such a huge success.
“We can’t put into words the difference that events like yours make to our patients and their families every single day.”
The last two months have been hectic planning the events but it is all worthwhile