Kirsty’s on target to reach gala goal

A LOCHABER women is well on her way to reaching her fundraising target for this year’s Caol gala day.

Kirsty Kyle, of Caol, began raising money on Friday February 3 when she organised prize bingo at Caol Community Centre which raised £1,700.

Mum- of-two Kirsty needs to raise around £6,000 for the annual gala day, which will be held on Saturday June 24 this year.

Speaking to The Oban Times Kirsty said: ‘ We run the gala so the community can get together. The bingo was a good start as we need to raise about £6,000. We are on track to make what we need. We usually have a Hallowe’en and Christmas dance for the children and we have that booked for this year too.’

Kirsty, who is also treasurer of Caol Community Council, said she was ‘roped’ into helping a few years ago but has helped out every since. This year will be the third gala day.

‘I was asked to help make up numbers but ended up doing the gala day and I have carried on with it every year since. The children really miss out if we don’t organise these things,’ said Kirsty.

Kirsty’s fundraising efforts don’t stop at the gala. At the end of last year she raised £2,000 for two Lochaber children who were diagnosed with cancer.

Kirsty said: ‘I did an online raffle for the children which raised £2,000. I just wanted to do something for the families. I felt really bad and thought there must be something we can do to make a wee bit of a difference.’

Kirsty has also been involved with fundraising for Fighting for Frances which helped Caol woman Frances O’Connell go to Mexico to get stem cell treatment for her Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

When The Oban Times ran a story about community fundraiser Liz Macmillan earlier this year, with a picture of Kirsty giving Liz the Caol community citizenship award, our Facebook page was inundated with comments about Kirsty’s hard work.

Numerous people called for Kirsty to get the award this year, but she revealed to The Oban

Times she will not be in the running: ‘It’s me who decides who gets the award and I won’t be giving it to myself,’ she laughed.

Kirsty added she is on the lookout for volunteers to help build the marquees prior to the gala. If local clubs want to put on a show, Kirsty can be contacted on k.kyle@btopenworld.com