FORGET ME NOT BELLES SCOOP ANDREW SMYTH AWARD
THE magnificent fund-raising efforts of a group of local ladies calling themselves the Forget Me Not Belles was recognised last week at the presentation of the prestigious Andrew Smyth Memorial Award.
The ladies - Maureen Black, Pat Brodlie, Mabel Taylor, Isabel Howie and Dorothy Harvey - were guests of honour in the Canmore Room last Monday evening for the awards presentation.
Mrs Isobel Ross, chairman of Forfar Community Council and the Andrew Smyth Memorial Committee, introduced the guests who included members of Andrew Smyth's family and previous winners.
After the valedictory speech she introduced committee member Helen Blacklaws who revealed the winner for 2009 was the Forfar Forget Me Not Belles.
The ladies have been fund-raising for the last eight or nine years, with their hard work and commitment raising over 40,000 for Alzheimers Scotland Angus.
The evening was rounded off with music from David Nicol and Bill Hutcheon.
The seed for fund-raising was sown after Maureen Black saw at first hand the effects dementia can have on family members after her mother had Alzheimers.
She also worked with people suffering from dementia when she worked as a community SCO.
She was introduced to fund-raising for Alzheimers at a charity shop run by Glamis woman Margaret Ingram which raised funds for the local church and Alzheimers - and Maureen was bitten by the bug.
She and her friend Mabel Taylor began organising charity shops which have become a regular feature at Lodge Kilwinning 90 in Coutties Wynd.
They initially hoped to set up a drop in centre but their funds for Alzheimers Scotland Angus have been used to support a number of projects - including a drop in centre which now operates in Forfar, a larger drop-in centre in Carnoustie and a 24 hour helpline.
The ladies' most recent fundraiser was a two week charity shop in the last week of May, first week in June which raised 6,800 for the charity.
The ladies receive constant donations of goods for sale and run a regular toy and book sale prior to Christmas.
They are struggling to find suitable premises in which to store their goods.
Anyone who can help or who has any items of bric-a-brac which they wish to donate is asked to contact Maureen on 465 397.
Looking ahead, they are running a bingo tea in November and may organise a car boot sale.
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
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