By Paul Hastie A TROOP of charity hikers from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, have cleaned off the dirt, hung up their boots and handed over a tremendous cheque for our Hospice
Appeal. Maureen Morrison and 10 friends and colleagues raised a fantastic
£1400 for CHAS when they completed the Marafun at Balmoral earlier this summer.
CHAS’s Debbie Traynor (centre) was on hand again to receive the Marafun walkers’
cheque from Maureen (right) as some of the other walkers looked on . . . and worried
about what plan she might dream up next!
They joined nearly 1000 other Sunday Post readers on the trek to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside, and do their bit for the campaign at the same time. The ladies at the Bellshill Newsagent and Gift Centre didn’t hesitate to take up the challenge when Maureen suggested it. But she admits it can often be hard for them to say no. “I’m always organising events for charity, so the girls are used to me trying to rope them into things,” she said. “One time I suggested we raise money by riding a zip-slide across the River Clyde — they just about had a fit when I said that. “I think everyone was quite relieved thatn it was only a walk I wanted them to do this time — even the girls from the shop next door joined in.” Posters Maureen and pals raised £1100 through sponsorship and the help of their customers. They put up posters and collection buckets in the shop and Maureen used her diplomatic skills to ensure every sales rep who walked through the door dipped into their pocket. A kind gift of £300 from shop bosses Andy Hakim and Ford Hewitt took the grand total to an impressive £1400. Maureen was delighted their day in Deeside brought such a successful result. “I’d been following the CHAS campaign in the paper and wanted to do something to help,” she said.
“Our fitness wasn’t bad — the day went without any hiccups. We all made it back to our minibus for champagne and strawberries.” Debbie Traynor from CHAS was pleased to accept the cheque from Maureen for Robin House. She said, “It’s lovely to see such an enthusiastic group who have not only managed to raise valuable funds for our work but to keep fit at the same time. It just shows fund-raising really can be fun.”
Maureen Morrison and 10 friends and colleagues raised a fantastic
£1400 for CHAS when they completed the Marafun at Balmoral earlier this summer.
CHAS’s Debbie Traynor (centre) was on hand again to receive the Marafun walkers’ 
