Betty Kerr hands over cheque to Beatson staff

Most of the sum handed over came from an open day earlier in the year when Betty, helped by her daughter Elizabeth Bain and various friends, again opened her own home to the public, serving up coffee and her famous home baking.

People packed every corner of her house and spilled into her garden for afternoon tea, and were generous in their support of the accompanying tombola, which featured hundreds of prizes and was in its own huge tent beside the house.

Betty (77), who also sells her lovely knitting, has been raising the money since the death of her husband Jim, in 2005, and passes on the cheques to the Beatson where he was nursed at the end of his days, to support the research into new drugs for cancer.

“Betty has been a great supporter of the Clinical Research Unit and puts tremendous effort into her fund raising,” said Sister Rosemary Morrison, who was one of those who nursed Jim.

“Over the years she has raised £12,000 for the unit and the money has been greatly appreciated.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.