Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Supporters get behind charities
Tartan Army help groups
Generous members of the West End Bar tartan army showed their support for a trio of charities at their annual sportsman’s dinner.
All those attending the St Andrew’s event run by the popular group at Airdrie working men’s club, and were asked to bring along items to donate to the town’s foodbank; with the collection totalling 120 kilograms of tinned food, pasta, rice and other supplies.
They also collected an impressive fundraising total of £ 4600 – with £ 3000 going to St Andrew’s Hospice and £1600 to this year’s chosen charity, Ring 20 research and support.
West End Bar owner Scott Rae this week visited foodbank volunteers to see how the donations would be put to good use.
He told the Advertiser: “We’ve supported Airdrie foodbank for several years by bringing donations before we set off to a home game – we did it before the Scotland v England match in June and did really well for them.
“One of our members suggested ahead of the sportsman’s dinner that we could all take along a wee carrier bag for the foodbank; their volunteers came along with the van to collect everything and it was good to collect so much, as we did better than expected.”
Foodbank manager David Findlay said: “Once again we’re delighted with the generous support given by the West End Bar tartan army, especially at this time of year when our supplies are at a critical stage.
“Over the past few weeks client numbers have been at a record high and donations are urgently needed.”
He added: “We’d also like to say a big thank you to the manager and staff of Home Bargains in Airdrie for their generous donation of vouchers.”
Nearly 200 people attended the local tartan army’s sportsman’s dinner, at which the guest speakers were comedian Joe Camay and former Dunfermline and Livingston manager Jim Leishman, who is now Provost of Fife.
The £4600 raised on the night – through ticket sales, raffles and football card games – will be divided between the hospice, and Ring 20, which supports families affected by the rare chromosome syndrome.
Cairnhill youngster Jessica Sullivan is one of only 100 children in the world to be diagnosed with the condition, which impacts on brain functioning and development and causes epilepsy.