Rutherglen's Chapman's Bar helps raise £2000 for charities

Nov 25 2009 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer

BIG-HEARTED regulars at a Rutherglen pub helped raise £2000 for three different charities.

Chapman's Bar on the Main Street played host to the McHugh family’s wonderful cabaret act, as they again put on a musical show for a good cause on the afternoon of Sunday, November 15.

In the process, they helped raise the impressive sum through raffles and donations, with the money being split between Kilbryde Hospice, the Walker House independent fund and the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Kilbryde Hospice director Gordon McHugh was once again joined on stage by wife Marie, sister Bernadette and family friend Stephen Grassie to entertain the crowd with hits by the likes of ABBA, Amy Winehouse and Elvis.

The McHugh family are tireless charity workers who have raised tens of thousands over the years for charities, and have a special association with the Kilbryde Hospice.

After the event, Gordon said: “I was shocked at the amount of money raised in the space of five hours but not surprised as we are dealing with the most generous people I have ever had the pleasure to know and be friends with.

“This shows us that this community shares the same vision in that we need to support the establishment of a hospice for the people of South Lanarkshire whilst continuing to support other deserving organisations.

“We would like to thank everyone who had an input to the afternoon, from collecting prizes to selling raffles and to proprietor John Crozier whose support for the Kilbryde Hospice has been magnificent.”

Julie Glen is the manager of Walker House, and she said it had been a great day: “It was a magnificent afternoon enjoyed by everyone including the staff from Walker House.

“The team worked so hard on the day and I can't thank them enough for their contribution to the Walker House independent fund which helps us to provide entertainment for the residents.”

Next up for the McHugh’s and the Kilbryde Hospice Roadshow will be their Christmas Charity Nights at the council HQ Banqueting Suite in Hamilton on December 4, 11 and 18.

Tickets cost £29 and include a four-course meal. They are limited and can be booked by phoning 01698 455363 or 01698 454236.

Last year the McHugh’s held a cabaret Christmas night that raised a whopping £32,000 for the hospice, which aims to make terminal patients comfortable in their final years and offers a range of services.

The night was in honour of Gordon’s sister, Margaret Miller, who tragically died of breast cancer in June, 2007, following a lifetime of tireless fund-raising.