Blantyre men prepare for charity trek

Mar 18 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO Blantyre men are set to walk the West Highland Way in memory of tragic Burnbank tot Daniel Elliott.

Gary Kelly and his best friend Stephen Rouse, both 27, will tackle the six-day trek to raise cash for the cot death charity which supported Daniel’s family.

Daniel, who was Gary’s nephew, passed away suddenly on April 13 last year, aged only 20 months old.

Now his uncle and Stephen will set out on their 97-mile journey from Milngavie to Fort William next Wednesday, March 24.

The former John Ogilvie High pupils had aimed to raise £500 for the Scottish Cot Death Trust.

However, the pair have already reached the £1000 mark.

Gary, a civil engineer, told the Advertiser this week that he wants to give the charity something back after they helped his family come to terms with Daniel’s death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

He said: “I really wanted to do something for the charity, and Stephen and I have only just started to get into hillwalking, so we thought we’d give it a go.

“We eventually decided on the West Highland Way.

“The Scottish Cot Death Trust really helped my sister Joanne out when she lost her son. So now I want to help them as much as they helped my sister.”

Gary explained that Daniel’s death had a devastating effect on the whole family, especially Daniel’s parents Joanne Kelly and Colin Elliott.

He continued: “It hit us all hard, but obviously it hit Joanne and Colin the hardest.

“In those types of situations, you don’t really know what to do or say. I had never experienced anything like that before.

“But if it wasn’t for the Scottish Cot Death Trust, I don’t know how we would have coped.

“I just want to show my gratitude for how their realistic approach helped my sister and her partner through the worst time in their lives.”

Gary said this week that, although he and Stephen, who works for First Direct, are active and healthy, they are not expecting the trek to be easy.

Gary, who lives with his partner Donna (27), said: “We are active, and play football for Calderwood Bluestar in East Kilbride, but this is going to be very hard.

“I have never walked the West Highland Way, and we’ve only been on a few treks so far, so it will be tough.”

To donate to the cause, visit www.justgiving.com, and enter either Gary Kelly or Stephen Rouse.

Meanwhile, Joanne Kelly (31) will hold a charity fun day in aid of the Scottish Cot Death Trust next month.

The event will be held at Blantyre Leisure Centre on Saturday, April 17, from 9am and will contain a range of fun activities for all the family.