Angus group raises £5,500 for charity

As an indicator of the world easing back to normal, coffee morning signs in Courier country towns and villages are a welcome sight.

But one Angus group has been stunned by the £5,500 its first event raised for cancer research.

The Monifieth Medical Practice patient advisory group say it was entirely down to a “110%” effort from everyone involved.

The fantastic sum was handed over after the runaway success of the fundraiser in Monifieth Parish Church last month.

Lead organiser Cath Young said the group had been overwhelmed by local support.

“Of course, with the pandemic, there was nothing going on, and so many charities have found it difficult,” she said.

“It must have been around July or August that we started to talk about the idea of a coffee morning.

“And we just thought, let’s go for it.

“Everything fell into place.”

She added: “But we never expected to bring in £5,500.

“We thought if we could make a couple of thousand, that would be great.”

“But I have to say that it was such a success because of the effort put in by everyone – it was 110%,” Cath added.

“And cancer reaches the door of a lot of people, so I think folk felt they wanted to be able to do something to help.

“Local businesses were so generous, and the community of Monifieth gave us their full support.

“And the church was amazing with their help and generosity.

“It was just a great event, and we are so grateful to everyone.”

Cath and patient group chairwoman Edith Christie led the cheque presentation to Vikki Merrilees of Cancer Research UK at Ninewells Hospital.

“We have been assured the money will stay in Dundee, and we are delighted about that,” said Cath.

The patient group has also been spearheading a campaign that has led to several defibrillators being sited across the town.

The first was unveiled in September as part of a lifesaving legacy by local man Neil Henderson.

His husband of less than a year, Neil Prenderleith, died suddenly at their Monifieth home in March – tragically just days away from surgery for a previously diagnosed heart condition.

“Cancer reaches the door of a lot of people, so I think folk felt they wanted to be able to do something to help

FUNDRAISER: Cath Young, centre, hands the cheque to Vikki Merrilees, with members of the Monifieth Medical Practice patient advisory group watching on.