Chance to share sunshine

DONORS are being urged to bring a bit of sparkle to the lives of sick children in hospitals across Tayside and Fife this festive season.

The Sunshine Box charity, which is run by Fiona Martin and her children Sarah and Owen, is asking people to give items for the Christmas parcels it will be delivering to young patients.

Donations are distributed to hospitals throughout Tayside and Fife, including Ninewells and King’s Cross in Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary and Arbroath Infirmary.

The team is appealing for new toys, blankets, games and selection boxes.

Items such as colouring books and pens, small cars, anything to do with Disney, fairy wings and wands are good choices.

Toiletries for teenagers, books, DVDs, t eddies and dolls are also popular.

The charity handed out more than 1,000 gift boxes to children as part of last year’s festive drive, and is hoping to go even further this year.

More than 50 parcels will be provided to each hospital – along with 50 selection boxes.

Fiona founded the charity i n 2016 after her daughter, who works in Ninewells as a doctor, gave her the idea.

She said: “It’s been going for three years and I’ve fallen in love with it.”

The charity provides boxes all year round. For more information visit the Sunshine Box Facebook page.

KIND-HEARTED Ryan Hastie has raised more than £1,000 in memory of his late aunt.

He took part in this year’s Dundee Kiltwalk to raise money for the Strathmore Diabetic Clinic where his aunt Sandra Brownlee was treated.

She died in January aged 66.

Ryan’s mum, Elaine Smith, 71, from Dundee, paid tribute to her son’s efforts in memory of her sister. She said: “Ryan and all the others did so well at the Kiltwalk.

“I was there to see them finish and the weather was awful, blowing a gale and they were all

A BARBER who attacked a disabled man before spitting at a police officer has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Callum Butler, 23, left James McKinsley – who has a glass eye and suffers from emphysema – bruised and swollen after repeatedly punching and choking him during a drunken rampage.

Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard the incident started after Butler’s mother Michelle – now deceased – took exception to him bringing a group of strangers to her home in the early hours of the morning.

Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed said: “The accused was telling his mother to calm down and shut up.

“Mr McKinsley had woken up during the commotion and attempted to pull the accused away from Michelle Butler.

“The accused retaliated and began to punch and seize Mr McKinsley by the throat and restrict his breathing.”

Butler was arrested and taken to police headquarters on West Bell