Scott’s fundraiser in memory of dad
Nicola Findlay
An East Kilbride teacher who lost his dad to pancreatic cancer delivered a knockout blow to the disease with a close shave.
Scott McGregor, a former boxer turned PE teacher at St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High, was supported by the whole school community in raising more than £3000 for Pancreatic Cancer Scotland.
Shades of purple were the call of the day with a whole host of activities organised at the school, led by the PE department, to mark World Pancreatic Cancer Day.
Buildings across the globe were lit up purple and staff and students were encouraged to wear something purple to school.
There was also a cake and candy stall with purple cakes and biscuits made by the home economics department, a hair and nail glitter stall, sponge the teacher and beat the goalie.
And as well as Scott’s head shave, fellow teacher Richie Clark had strips torn off him in aid of the fundraising effort in an eyewatering leg wax.
“I lost my dad Robert to this horrific disease in 2015,” Scott told the News. “Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers.
“As my dad would have been 70 this year, the PE department thought we would do something a bit special.
“As a former boxer, we made the event a boxing theme. It was in the games hall where we had the lights out and spotlights on.
“We also had music and a ‘ring’ set up where the head shave and leg wax took place.
“It was a great atmosphere with hundreds of pupils and staff paying £1 to see the event – and although it wasn’t planned, two of the senior boys – Ryan Tunnicliffe and Andrew McNelis – did the head shave too.
“I would like to say a big thanks to Lucas Aitken of S5 who performed the head shave on the day.
“Thanks also to our PE student Ellis Knoud who led the leg wax.
“As always, big thanks to Gerry Quigley, school technician, who set up the stage, Kim Lee in the office for helping with the posters and Claire Bruce and the home economics department who made the purple cakes and biscuits.
“Thanks go to Nicole McMillan who chairs the charity committee in the school and helped me set up the event. She organised the senior girls who work with her on the committee and did the hair and make up and assisted in everything that was going on.”
“Finally, the biggest thanks goes to the PE department for helping me lead the day.”