Family and friends who have raised more than £170,000 in memory of a “great man” who was loved by everyone he knew are hoping to add thousands more to their total.
Whitburn man Willie Wilmot died in November 2007 of cancer when he was just 59 and since then his family have held an annual event for the community to gather and remember him while raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
This year they will mark the 15th anniversary of the Willie Wilmot Family Fun Day and are looking forward to it being business as usual after an online event in 2020 and a scaled-back version the following year due to covid.
Willie’s youngest daughter, Pauline, who is also now a senior fundraising manager for Macmillan said her family is proud to help people living with cancer.
She said her dad was well-known and loved in Whitburn and the community gets behind the event each year.
She said: “It’s a real community event because my dad had a plumbing and heating business in Whitburn called Brucefield Plumbing, so he is really well known in the local area, as is my mum.
“We all grew up in Whitburn, my dad built his house there and his business and we get a lot of support from people who still talk fondly about either working with my dad or for him or when he’s done jobs.” Pauline, whose mum Irene and sisters Lorraine and Carol also co-ordinate the event, said her dad is still very much missed by their family but they know he would be proud of them all.
She added: “He worked seven days a week most times , but what we remember is he was so present in our lives.
“He was there for every holiday and birthday and while he was always working, he enjoyed family fun.”
Pauline hopes everyone will enjoy getting together at the event on Sunday, November 13 at The Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn from 12pm until 4pm.
There will be lots of fun and games and prizes to be won, as well as lovely shopping stalls and home baking.
Pauline said: “We normally raise about £10,000 to £12,000. In 2020 we had to go virtual and raised £6000. We went back to ‘live’ last year, although we had restrictions and masks, so this is the first year we feel back to normal and we can get together with family and friends and celebrate my dad.
“He’s still sorely missed every day and I think he would be very proud of everything we’ve achieved.”
Pauline has seen the difference Macmillan makes to the lives of people fighting cancer and their families and added: “I work for Macmillan now so it’s come full circle. That’s how I got my job at Macmillan because we started doing this 15 years ago and five years later I started to think this is what I wanted to do.
“Macmillan makes such a difference.
“We can see that and know what money does for Macmillan and for people living with cancer and it’s really nice to know that.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
