Cancer charity set to repeat ladies lunch in Hamilton

May 28 2008 Report by Shirley Bartynek

A GROUP of big-hearted fund-raisers are set to host their second Ladies Who Lunch event in Hamilton next month.

Following last year’s successful event the Hamilton branch of Cancer Research UK hope to break last year’s total that raised almost £1000.

Members of the group are inviting women from all over Lanarkshire to join them for lunch at Carrigan’s, Eddlewood, on Saturday, June 21, at 12.30pm

Ladies will be treated to a three-course lunch and a glass of wine.

The meal will be followed by a talk from laughter therapist Margaret McCartney, who has worked with Dr “Patch” Adams, while she spent some time in China.

Amercian Dr Adams each year organises a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to Russia as clowns, to bring hope and joy to orphans, patients, and the people.

At last year’s event, held in the Villa Hotel in Burnbank Road, Gweneth Guthrie, of the television programme “High Road”, entertained the ladies.

This year the branch have decided to host the event in a larger venue to allow more women to get involved in the fund-raising.

Hamilton actress, Marianne Muir, who attended the event, said the event is vital in raising awareness of the killer disease.

The 62-year-old said: “Around 24 years ago I found a lump on my breast at that time I had it removed and thankfully it was found to be benign.

“I had various checks and was given the all clear.

“However some seven years ago, I was commissioned to act out a part where a women had found a lump.

“But while acting the part I myself found another lump.

“The experience put a very different perspective on my life.

“Again fortunately it was not cancerous.

“But one of my close friends and relatives died from cancer as she left it too late to have a smear test.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of being checked regularly.

“Events like Ladies Who Lunch are great and you don’t feel like you are fund-raising if you are having fun doing it.”

Tickets for the event cost £20.

Anyone wishing to buy a ticket, or would like more information about the event, should contact secretary Margaret Gold on 329526, or branch member Elizabeth Davidson on 283524.

LADIES WHO LUNCH: the Hamilton branch of Cancer Research UK get set to host their second huge fund-raising event.