A Dumfriesshire community is pulling out the stops to raise funds for Scotland’s Motor Neurone Disease charity in honour of a much-loved resident.
Well-known publican Jim Hughes owned the Black Bull Hotel in Moffat for over 20 years as well as Caspers Nightclub, The Stag Hotel and The Clarendale in Heathhall.
He was diagnosed with MND in December and his daughter, Sasha Hughes, who runs Hugo’s tapas bar and restaurant in the Upper Annandale town, has been raising funds for the national charity since January – collecting almost £25,000 so far.
Family, friends, residents and businesses have all being doing their bit with Jim’s sister-in-law, Lenny Borthwick, raising £3,170 from having her hair cut off.
Sasha said: “Since we got the diagnosis and began fundraising in January, our total to date is £24,852 with more events on their way. So we’d like to thank everyone for their kindness and continued support.”
A large slice of the total, £20,167, was raised from a Scottish night with the proceeds to be shared between MND Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and The Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal.
On Friday, a fundraising match – first half football and the second half rugby union – between Moffat Thistle and Moffat Rams was held in aid of MND Scotland and in Jim’s honour.
It has raised £3,800 with money still to come in.
Ashleigh Douglas, secretary of the Rams, said: “Thank you to everyone who braved that rain to spectate. A fantastic turn out and a great show of community support for Jim and his family. There’s already talk about a rematch next year.
“Thank you also to the Hughes family for buying into the crazy idea and helping Jim to be part of it.”
Ashleigh also thanked the long list of people who helped in any way to make the event a success.”
MND Scotland is the country’s leading charity providing care and support to people affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND), as well as funding vital research into finding a cure.
