Published: Tuesday, 15th April, 2008 10:00
Beach walk raises almost £1500
By Roisin McGroarty
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SETTING OFF: Mark, Kerry, Maureen, Kate, Liz, Judith, Alicia, Kim, Jake the dog, Leigh and her daughter Taylor
BIG-hearted staff at Jessica’s pharmacy have raised over a £1,000 by battling bitter gale-force winds.
Employees at Troon’s Boots raised the amazing £1,453 walking all the way from Troon to Irvine beach - along with one of the girl’s two and a half-year-old daughter.
The group, which included Kim Russon, Judith Montgomery, Maureen Taylor, Leigh McGill and daughter Taylor, Kate Dunn, Alicia Watson, Liz Ritchie, Kerry Burton, Mark Smith and Jake the dog, battled bitter winds all the way.
Organiser Kim, 47, explained: “Jessica has really being coming here her whole life, since she was a baby so we know her really well and we’ve known the family a long time. I didn’t want to just put out a bucket and ask people to do it - I just felt I had to do something. I just asked if they would mind walking and they all agreed, there was no hesitation from anyone.
"We had a great time and I think we had the self achievement thing where we had all done something for Jessica.” It took the group an hour and a half to complete their journey and most of the time they weren’t able to speak because the wind was that bitter.
Kim continued: “One of the girls dressed like she was going up Mount Everest with waterproof trousers and complete with Jaffa Cakes and water but it was so cold I think she was well dressed for it. The wind was really howling but it really didn’t take use that long.
“We all knew we were doing this for a really good cause and because we know Jessica it was quite personal for us. I think our families are really, really pleased about us doing it.
“We thought we would raise £400 to £500 so the total really surprised us. It just shows that people really care and all of us girls have families and we would hope that if it was one of us that someone would do it for you.”
The money was raised through sponsorship from customers, family and friends.
Speaking about the fantastic donation, Rachel Findlay - Jessica’s mum - said: “What they have done for Jess is unbelievable and raising that much money is fantastic. All of them took their own time to walk to Irvine and there’s not a lot of people that would walk that far.
“A big thank you to them for that, it was a massive donation.”
Kim added: “Jessica has been coming in for so long and she’s so bubbly. I can remember at Christmas, we always wear jokey Santa hats in the shop, and I had brought in a headband with sparkly things and I saw Jessica whispering to her mum about it. She came up to me and asked where I got it and I just took it off and gave her it because she is so lovely and how could you resist any child.
“I read about the appeal in the paper and just turned to my husband and said we needed to do something.”
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