Big hearts show spirit of Christmas
Suicide charity Fit pals provide toys for kids
Specsavers in Wishaw is encouraging customers to get involved in a charity raffle to raise money for a good cause this festive season.
The store in Main Street is raffling off three prizes in aid of suicide awareness charity Chris’s House.
The charity was set up by Wishaw mum Anne Rowan in memory of her son Christopher, whom she lost to suicide in 2011.
Chris’s House is a 24hour, non-medical support centre which offers respite for people who are feeling unwell.
Store director, Erin Riddell, said: “We’re very proud to be supporting Chris’s House. It’s a fantastic charity which supports families all over Lanarkshire and beyond.
“We hope that our customers will help us raise money for the cause.”
The top prize is a pair of single vision glasses with Ultraclear coating up to the value of £125, second prize is £30 worth of Lovetoshop vouchers, and third prize is a luxury Christmas hamper.
Raffle tickets, priced £1 per strip, are now on sale from the store.
The raffle will be drawn on Saturday, December 22. Two generous groups from Wishaw have made big donations to a Carluke- based charity.
Youngsters and adults from Tokui Ryu Karate and fitness troop Saturday Circuit Warriors decided to get involved in Baby Bank Scotland’s Christmas Toy Appeal.
And last Sunday the charity’s trustee Caroline Noon dropped by to collect the bumper haul of gifts from the groups.
Sandy Kilgour, a parent involved with Tokui Ryu Karate, said: “We decided we would all come together as one group and help provide kids with a selection of toys to perhaps make their Christmas more special and help make memories for others whom it might not have been possible this year.
“For a two-week period we collected toys, hat scarves and gloves for kids of all ages.
“We are tremendously proud that we are only a small club with great members and together we are delighted we could help make a difference.”
Caroline added: “Thanks so much to everyone who supported the Christmas toy collection on behalf of Baby Bank Scotland.
“The thanks goes to our members, whether you managed to contribute through gifts or through moral support, either way you were all superb.
“The Baby Bank Scotland trustees will ensure that each and every gift will be redirected to help the people who need it most .
“Most of all, we might not see the glee on the kids faces when Santa has indeed visited them on Christmas morning but in our hearts we will all know that we help make the difference.”
...we collected toys, hat scarves and gloves...