Staff raise £5000 in memory of colleague

Jul 23 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A GROUP of council workers have raised £5000 for charity in memory of a colleague who died of cancer this year.

The workers, from the First Stop Shop in Bellshill, climbed the 2867 ft Goat Fell on the Isle of Arran to raise the money for The Beatson Oncology Centre Fund.

The 15 workers from North Lanarkshire Council’s housing and social work services wanted to pay tribute to David Herkes, who worked as assistant area manager of Bellshill First Stop Shop between 1996 and 2003 before becoming the landlord of the Inn on the Stroud in East Kilbride.

He died from the illness in January aged 46.

Ex-colleague and friend William Jeffrey said: “As the Beatson provided David with outstanding care and support, we decided to raise some money by climbing Goat Fell. Other events, like a Christmas raffle, sponsored waxing, sale of football cards and cake sale, have all taken place to help raise the funds.”

Janet Grove from the Beatson Oncology Centre Fund, was delighted to receive the cash on behalf of the Beatson.

She said: “The money will be used for medical research, patient care and will also go towards buying new equipment in order that the doctors have the most advanced equipment in the fight against cancer.”