A Bothwell husband and wife team have donated £1000 to a Lanarkshire family who raise cash for the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity in memory of their daughter.
Francis Gilluley and wife Kerry handed over a cheque to Bothwell couple Donna and Stephen O'Neill, the parents of young Caitlin who tragically passed away in November 2008.
The St Bride’s Primary pupil lost her fight against a rare metabolic disorder aged just 12 – leaving her friends and family devastated.
But amidst their grief the family chose to support the work of Glasgow Children’s Hospital (the former Yorkhill) and embarked on years of fundraising efforts.
And late last month they were delighted to raise over £4000 from a toy sale, held within St Bride's Pastoral Centre, coupled with the Gilluley's donation, bringing their total raised for the charity over the years to over £40,000.
Businessman Francis, who owns the Fighting Scots Gym in Bellshill, had seen the charitable work the O'Neill's were doing on social media and was keen to support them with a donation from his Frank Gilluley Foundation - a new charity launched by boxing champions Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn earlier this year.
Set up to help others within the Lanarkshire community, the charity foundation was set up in memory of Francis' late dad.
Francis told Lanarkshire Live: "I saw the toy sale on a Facebook post and just how popular the event was and that it was for the Glasgow Children's Hospital in memory of Caitlin.
"I was keen to help with a donation and contacted Donna to see if she would be happy to accept £1000 for the charity.
"The family have given so much over the years to a wonderful cause so it was only right to top up their already amazing total."
Caitlin's mum Donna said money was still coming in from donations are.
She told us: "Francis and Kerry then donated a further £1000 to Caitlin's fundraiser, which we were so overwhelmed with.
"We are in contact with the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity regarding what they would like us to purchase with the money and so we are in the process of buying 10 portable DVD players for the metabolic ward where Caitlin spent a lot of time, and iPads for the PICU ward.
"Thank you to everyone who contributed and donated this year once again."
The family's fundraisers since 2008 have included the making and sale of bangles, children’s juice and cake stall, bag-packing, a bi-annual toy sale, several ladies’ nights, a sponsored cycle, a sponsored hair cut and a Just Giving page.
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