DWiIsStrHicAtWNePwEsOPLE Kind Gill’s big honour

Fundraising award well-deserved Helping Beavers to make a splash at Special Olympics

A kind-hearted fundraiser has received a national award for raising over £100,000 for charity.

Gill Murray was named Cancer Research UK Honorary Fellow in recognition of her “exceptional loyalty and dedication” to the cause. The award was made at the annual Flame of Hope Awards in London to acknowledges remarkable efforts in fundraising and volunteering made by people from all walks of life.

The audience heard how Gill had shown extraordinary dedication to Cancer Research UK over the years raising more than £101,000.

Gill said: ”I am thrilled to receive this award and delighted to share the day with my husband Jim, who does so much to help me. My family and friends are an incredible support all year and make the Gill Murray Charity Day so successful every year.

“It was lovely to be recognised with this award, but I can’t do this alone, it’s a team effort. This year’s charity day is on Saturday, November 4, in Kirkton Church Hall and we welcome all visitors.”

Gill, of Carluke, first started fundraising more than 20 years ago when she had a ‘party plan’ gathering at her house with some friends.

She decided to donate any profits to Cancer Research UK instead of taking any commission and the first donation made to the charity was £50.

The party became very popular and numbers increased year-on-year.

The event grew in size and Gill found herself having to remove furniture and put it in her neighbour’s garage to make more room in her house.

It soon outgrew the house and the event was rehoused at the Kirkton Church Halls where it now fills all three halls with teas served in the church.

The sum of £1250 was taken at the door at last year’s event.

Cancer Research UK’s local fundraising manager Rowan Main, said: “Every step we make towards beating cancer sooner relies on every pound, every hour and every person.

“These awards are our way of honouring incredible people like Gill, her family and friends, who give their time freely to raise money for research and promote greater awareness of the disease, and yet ask for nothing in return.

“It’s thanks to the support of the fundraising public and our amazing army of volunteers that we can continue to make a real difference and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

My family and friends are an incredible support all year

Members of the Clyde Valley Beavers Disabled Swimming Club raised almost £500 ahead of their trip to the Special Olympics in Sheffield.

Pictured are Hannah Brown and Saffron Croly who helped on the day with staff and customers at the Tesco store on Belhaven Road raising an impressive £476.96.

The money will be used by the club to help promote the social and active projects which managed to send nine swimmers to the special Olympics last week.

Everyone at the club would like to thank kind-hearted customers and Tesco for helping them fundraise to make the trip.