The family of a brave terminally ill teen who has touched the hearts of the town say they are "completely overwhelmed" by the generosity of the East Kilbride community after locals rallied and raised an incredible £13,000 for the Kilbryde Hospice.
In a heartwarming show of support for 18-year-old end-of-life cancer patient Max Jones, hundreds of locals queued for more than two hours in the blistering sun on Sunday to make a donation to the cause.
Max’s workmates at Pacini’s chip shop threw a charity fundraiser for the hospice as a thank you for the "phenomenal" care their friend has received since being admitted to Kilbryde at the start of the year.
The £3 supper charity day ran from noon till 10pm on Sunday and featured a DJ and magician with all proceeds raised going directly to Kilbryde Hospice.
And the response was nothing short of phenomenal as the chippie dished out 2000 suppers on the day and coined in a remarkable £13,367.
Thanking the town for its support, Max's aunt and guardian Louise Cooper said: "We are completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support that the East Kilbride community has shown with this event. We were delighted for Pacini's to support the hospice in this way and honour Max as a colleague and friend.
"The atmosphere on the day was amazing and it was just so lovely to see the community come together. We would like to thank each and every person who has taken the time to send their love and good wishes and everyone who donated in any way to the day. And most of all to Max's colleagues and friends who worked so hard to make the day a success."
Last week Lanarkshire Live told how the family were left heartbroken by Max's cruel glioblastoma diagnosis - the same cancer that claimed the lives of his mum Angie Jones, 36, and 66-year-old gran Margaret O’Kane just 14 months apart.
At just 17-years-old Max, Claremont AFC 2004s' coaches' player of the year, was diagnosed with the same tumour last summer and was given just weeks to live when he was admitted to the Kilbryde Hospice in January this year.
The “one in a billion” series of deadly brain tumours to hit the Lanarkshire family was described as “brutal” by Max’s aunt Louise.
A second tumour was later found on his brain and one on his spine and sadly Max became so ill he wasn’t able to finish more treatment and was transferred to the Kilbryde Hospice. He is believed to be the youngest ever patient to receive palliative care at the East Kilbride facility.
Pacini’s owners Virgil and Sharon Franchetti described Max as a "lovely boy" who has touched all of their hearts.
Commenting on the hugely successful fundraiser, Virgil said: "The day was amazing and the money that was raised was unbelievable.
"We literally had a queue round the block from the moment we opened till the moment we closed with many people queuing two hours in the heat at tea time.
"The DJ did brilliant, the magician did brilliant, all the staff and everyone who made it along on the day were amazing - a massive success story for East Kilbride.
"Because of the weather I was a bit worried we wouldn't get a great turnout as people started handing in donations through the week saying they were having a barbecue or going to the beach and wouldn't make it along.
"But I think the whole of East Kilbride came out to support us showing just what happens when folk come together for an important cause."
Commenting on the staff's outstanding efforts on the day, one customer said: "The queues have been incredible all day as the community have come together to show their support but a massive shout out has to go to the owners, all the staff and the DJ for doing such an incredible job today. Well done to all involved."
Another added: "I stood in the queue for the best part of two hours and honestly it was worth it. Well done to everyone behind the scenes at Pacini's for working so hard in the heat. Outstanding."
Virgil and his team presented the bumper cheque to hospice staff earlier today.
He added: "The hospice have went above and beyond for Max, I think he's made an impression on everyone.
"The staff deserve so much credit. It must be a massive challenge mentally to do that day in and day out, massively rewarding, but so hard."
Kilbryde Hospice fundraising & commercial manager Lesley Wiggins said: "We are delighted that Pacini's hosted a fundraiser to raise much needed funds for Kilbryde Hospice on behalf of their employee and friend Max who is currently receiving care in our in-patient unit.
"We are so grateful to Pacini's for putting this amazing event on. Everyone in the fundraising team and at Kilbryde Hospice are overwhelmed by the amazing total and can’t thank the whole team enough."
Pacini's would like to thank David and Alistair at D A Thomson Foods, Porrelli Ice Cream, P D Produce, Bernard Corrigan Fishmonger, Davie Bell at Decibel Entertainment, Billy Reid Magician and DJ James and Sam's Flooring East Kilbride, Kevin McManus and American Golf for their raffle donations.
And a massive thank you to all the Pacini's staff who went above and beyond to make the day a success.
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