Milestone anniversary for Eaglesham fundraisers

The committee was founded in 1990 by Eaglesham resident Maire Jeffrey, who had run it informally for five years before.

It was Maire’s aunt losing a battle to cancer which gave her the momentum to start fundraising for Macmillan, a charity close to her heart, and a group of friends soon followed suit to form an official committee.

The first fundraiser for the now established 1990 committee was a dinner dance, which raised £2,000.

But the group’s biggest fundraiser came in 2005, when the local Round Table, Balfour Beatty, the committee and the Eaglesham community joined forces for Run the Road, a trek of the new orbital bypass road the week before it opened to traffic.

Some 11,000 people took part, and it raised a staggering £266,000 for cancer support.

Longest serving chair Maire — who was succeeded by Jenny McIlwham, Dodie Mitchell and finally Eileen Morton — said: “The most enjoyable thing was the camaraderie from other members and, although it was hard work at times and dependent on other people’s generosity to raise funds and gain support, it was always worth it in the end.

“I’m absolutely delighted the committee is still going strong after all these years and continuing to raise so much money for such a deserving cause.”

The group continues to fundraise locallly, and has to date brought in £138,972 which, combined with the Run the Road total, adds up to £404,972 for those dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

A representative added: “The committee continues its sterling efforts, and the next fundraiser is the ladies lunch on November 6, at the Eglinton Arms — which will no doubt be another roaring success!”

From all at The Extra, con gratulations to the Eaglesham 1990 Macmillan Cancer Support Committee on a well-earned anniversary celebration.