British Heart Foundation charity fundraiser Ally is our Local Hero
A fundraiser who kick-started a campaign that has clocked up £35,000 in memory of his brother-in-law has been named our Local Hero.
Ally Fleming, from Livingston, who set up the Paul Lynas Memorial Fundraising Group, has been presented with The Courier and The Centre, Livingston Local Hero Award in recognition of raising £35,000 with friends and family for the British Heart Foundation.
Ally Fleming and Liam Fairley founded the group after Ally’s brother-in-law, Paul Lynas, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 2017 when he was 37 years old. Since then the group has hosted several charity events in his memory, including race nights, indoor and outdoor bowling competitions and golfing tournaments. The Local Hero Award was set up by The Centre, Livingston and the West Lothian Courier over five years ago to pay tribute to people in the community who have gone the extra mile to help others and reward them with a £100 gift card to spend in the mall.
Ally Fleming said he was “surprised and honoured” to receive the prestigious Local Hero Award on behalf of the group of fundraisers.
He continued: “We held events that Paul would have wanted to be a part of, which is why we’ve become recognised for our golfing and bowls days.
“Unfortunately, due to lockdown restrictions they have been cancelled this year, however we are now planning to hold an online auction to raise money on September 6, where we will have items including rounds of golf at venues like St Andrews and Royal Troon, signed Football Jerseys, and music memorabilia including a signed Stereophonics drumskin.
“All details of the auction can be found on our Facebook page under Paul Lynas Memorial.
“It’s been fantastic to be able to raise awareness and funds for the British Heart Foundation and experience the incredible work they do and to get an insight into how they operate and help people.
“Having the opportunity to speak at the SNP conference in Glasgow during the Nation of Lifesavers CPR successful campaign to bring CPR training to all of Scotland’s secondary schools was an incredible experience.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve raised so far and wish to express my huge thanks to everyone who has supported us along the way and also in our quest to try and reach the £50,000 mark next year.”
Patrick Robbertze, centre director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are delighted to present our Local Hero Award to Ally Fleming who has done an incredible job fundraising for the British Heart
Foundation with his friends and family.
“Ally and everyone else who is part of the Paul Lynas Memorial Fundraising Group are extremely inspirational individuals who should be incredibly proud of the outstanding amount of £35,000 they have managed to raise through their events.”
Courier editor Marjorie Kerr added: “Ally and the Paul Lynas Memorial Fundraising Group have raised a fantastic amount of money and Ally is a truly deserving recipient of our Local Hero award.”