Award for miracle man

Paisley man Donald Allison went to Lourdes, threw away his crutches – and walked.

And he was dancing with joy at his Gallowhill home for another reason – he was chosen as winner of the 1977 Community Trophy for his work with children, teenagers, old folk and the handicapped.

Modest Donald, 44, said:“I think this is a great honour, but I would never have won without the help of community workers, the police and the volunteers at the clubs we attend.”

The prestigious award came two years after his wonder trip to Lourdes, the pilgrimage town in south-west France.

Donald was struck by a crippling disease in 1971, when a worker at Renfrew engineering plant Babcock and Wilcox.

He was unable to walk without crutches.

During a second Lourdes visit, fumbling to find cash for a postcard, he put the crutches down without thinking, handed over the money...AND UNAIDED WALKED BACK TO HIS WHEELCHAIR.

He said:“I remember hearing screams.

“I thought I had handed over the wrong amount, when I realised what happened.”

Donald still requires daily rest periods and drugs to counter the pain of hardening leg arteries and a weakened spine.

Commenting on Donald’s community work, community worker Jim Tollan said:“I am impressed by the broad scope of his voluntary work, from helping at a summer playscheme to running a youth club and entertaining mentally handicapped and elderly disabled people.”

Voluntary services organiser Ruth Burn said: “His achievements are remarkable, despite a crippling illness.”