A Kilmarnock woman is taking up her mother's charitable cause almost two years on from her tragic death.
Elise Pilling, the bereaved daughter of tragic Shirley-Ann Barnes, is set to host a charity event at the Park Hotel on Saturday night in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.
The event will double as a send-off for her mum who suffered a brain aneurysm while driving her motorcycle in September 2020.
Shirley-Ann was well known for her tireless fundraising work and from 2008 she was part of a group of 100 bikers who donned pink bras and vests for a sponsored ride around Scotland called the ‘Breast Way Round’. The mum helped raise around £350,000 over 10 years for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of her dear friend Aly.
Elise said: "When mum died, over 150 bikers turned up to pay their respects in the form of motorcycle cavalcade ahead of the funeral service. The police even shut off John Finnie street for them.
"But because this was during Covid we couldn't have many people at the service or host anything afterwards and mum always said she wanted everyone to celebrate her life with a knees up.
"So this event is a way to thank them for showing up for mum while supporting MacMillian which was a cause really close to mum's heart after her friend Aly passed away from breast cancer.
"I thought there was no better place to host it than the Park Hotel where the Breast Way Round bikes always left from."
Elise is taking up the torch of her mum's charitable legacy.
The event will feature a raffle to generate funds and for friends and family to raise a glass to Shirley-Ann.
So far, around £800 has been raised for charity through ticket sales already.
The 32-year-old added: "I never realised how much of a big deal mum was. Even now, I get stopped by people in the town who speak to me about mum.
"My mum was great at organising, I'm not as good as her and it has been stressful but I'm getting there.
"Mum died when she was 56-years-old, so I'd just like to reiterate to everyone that life is too short and we never know what might be around the corner."
You can donate to MacMillian here.
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