Stars line up for Love of Eilidh night
Pals mark event’s sixth year
Corrie star Debra Stephenson, top Scots band The Fratellis and Voice winner Stevie McCrorie are among the line up for a charity concert in Stirling.
The event is the sixth For the Love of Eilidh concert, named after Stirling teenager Eilidh Brown, who lost her battle with cancer almost 10 years ago.
Eilidh – described by friends and family as a “shining example and spectacular person, selfless, strong, positive and funny with an amazing understanding of the world” – lost her fight for life on March 25, 2010, nine days before her 16th birthday.
Eilidh and her family had spent quality time at respite home Calum’s Cabin on the Isle of Bute during her illness and, while thinking of how they could honour her wish that they help others, parents Gordon and Nicole felt creating a similar holiday home nearer Stirling would offer other young cancer patients and their families the same benefits.
When first speaking about their idea in 2010 Gordon and Nicole didn’t have any expectations and knew despite the support of friends and family, it would take the people of Stirling getting behind them to achieve the dream.
Since then locals have done just that, raising the bulk of over £600,000 gathered so far for the Eilidh Brown Fund.
After years of tireless fundraising, work is now nearing completion on the site at Munnieston Farm near Thornhill.
As well as Bad Girls actress and impressionist Debra, the concert, which takes place at the Macrobert on Saturday January 18 at 7pm, also features comedian Andy Cameron, River City’s Tom Urie, Paul Riley from Still Game, X factor’s Melanie Masson and special performances from Stageworx, Dance School of Scotland, the GeO Gospel Choir and more.
There is also a free aftershow party until late.
Eilidh’s dad Gordon said: “The concert is the cornerstone of our fundraising and an ideal chance for people to have a wonderful night jampacked with top quality entertainment and also to see what we have been doing with the money they have all raised for Eilidh.”
“We are entering our final stages of the build,” said Gordon. “We are looking for help with furnishing the house and the garden, plants, planting etc so if anyone feels they can contribute we would love to hear from them.
“Eilidh didn’t specifically ask us to build the house, but it is being built because of something she said to us,” said dad Gordon, who still lives with his family in St Ninians.
“When she was ill we had been at a charity event with other families and she was presented with a Playstation – something we couldn’t afford at the time. She was so grateful and said ‘We have to do something to help people, Dad’.
“By then we knew she was dying but even to the last second we hoped she would somehow pull through.
“We have always said building this home is something we wish we hadn’t had to think of doing but Eilidh wanted us to help others and we are determined that is what it will do.”