Alasdair Gray donates paintings to help cancer mum
ARTIST and writer Alasdair Gray is helping raise funds for a young mother’s cancer treatment by contributing a new artwork for a prize draw.
Gray has designed the poster for a production at Oran Mor in Glasgow which takes place tonight as part of a fundraising drive for mum-of-three Claire Bothwell, who is seeking to raise £200,000 for pioneering treatment for two separate cancers.
The piece was created by Gray to advertise the event, Double Trouble, which will feature River City star Libby Mcarthur and Still Game actor Kate Donnelly.
The pair will perform readings of plays by playwright Doreen Mcardle, Ms Bothwell’s mother in law, Emails From A Reluctant Mother and C’mon Get Aff.
The event is being staged to raise funds for Ms Bothwell, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017.
She had waited six months to be tested for the disease.
After surgery to remove the tumour, doctors found the disease had spread to her lungs and Claire was told there was no cure.
Last year medics discovered she had another, entirely unrelated, blood cancer called follicular lymphoma.
Having two cancers means she is ineligible for NHS trials.
After the double diagnosis, Ms Bothwell and her family set about raising funds to seek immunotherapy treatment overseas.
So far £140,000 of a £200,000 target has been raised.
Playwright Ms Mcardle said: “The campaign for Claire has been amazing so far – I thought this was the least I could do.
“I’m so grateful to all the people who have helped.
“I can’t thank Libby and Kate enough – it’s wonderful to have them on board and I can’t wait to see them bring their characters to life on the stage.
“Alasdair Gray didn’t hesitate when I asked him to help, he has been very generous with his time and talents.
“Everyone has made a huge effort. I am sure it will be a night to remember and hopefully we will raise much needed funds for Claire.”
Ms Bothwell, a TV producer, said: “Doreen used to put on shows for a living and I have been regaled with near mythical stories for years about how she toured her plays around Scotland and sold out venues up and down the country.
“I am so excited to see what Doreen will produce and I feel humbled again by what everyone is doing around me.”
Tickets are still available via https://doubletrouble2019.eventbrite.co.uk or on the night at the Oran Mor bar.
To find out more about the campaign for Claire visit cureclairescancer.org