IT was back to school for some of the parents of kids at Castlehill Primary, Bearsden, when five of the dads got together to play in a band called Truants.

The group entertained at the fundraising event which was organised by the Parents’ Fundraising Group (PTF) and brought in around £700.

The quiz and band night went down very well with money raised from ticket sales, profits from the bar and a tombola. The PTF is hoping to raise enough money to improve the outdoor facilities in the playground with new play equipment.

Head teacher Suzanne Kenney joined the band on the drums at the interval and praised all the efforts put in by the organisers.

She said: “It was a really fantastic evening and everyone really enjoyed it. People were asking when the next one was going to be.”

THE ORGANISERS . . . (left to right) Carol McGrathin, Kay Bell, Rachel Tainsh, Rachel Savage, and Becky Parker. (Ref:m20142a)

STATISTICS show that more small businesses in East Dunbartonshire are benefiting from a scheme set up by the Scottish Government than the national average.

Figures show that 57 per cent of small firms across Scotland are benefiting from the Small Business Bonus - while 59 per cent are taking advantage locally.

The scheme allows companies to apply for reduced or zero business rates.

Bearsden MSP Fiona McLeod said: “Scotland’s small businesses play a vital role in our economy and are at the heart of our communities. So it is extremely encouraging to see that 59 per cent of our small businesses are benefiting.

“This scheme is helping to create a fairer Scottish business rates system and giving a boost to small companies in the face of economic pressures.”

BEARSDEN sharp shooter Emma Steeples has been selected to represent the British Schools’ Shooting Team in Dortmund, Germany.

The Kelvinside Academy pupil (16) will compete in the prestigious three-day event, starting on March 21.

This will be Emma’s first cap for her country and it is quite an achievement considering she is one of only six youngsters in the GB team who will be up against top teams from the US and Eastern Europe.

Shooting from a distance of 50 metres in the small bore .22 section, the Bearsden and District rifle club member will have to hit a target no larger than a one pence to score the maximum of 10 points.

Emma will have a total of 60 shots so could potentially score 600 points. The event is also timed with each competitor having 75 minutes.

Described by her shooting coach at Kelvinside Academy, Charles Young, as “exceptionally gifted”, he said he knew within the first week of her taking up the sport that she was something special.

He said: “Emma is still very young but I can remember when she started. It was Tuesday, August 25, 2009. She came back a week later and I was able to say when I saw her shoot again that we have a wonderful gifted child. Her natural ability and enthusiasm is a winning combination.”

School rector Robert Karling said that he hoped her example would encourage more pupils at the school to take up the sport.

He added: “By winning a GB cap, Emma has shown what can be done through talent and dedication.”

Emma’s continued success has meant she is now needing to buy new equipment and is currently looking for sponsorship. If you feel you can help out contact Emma’s mum Patricia on psteeples@yahoo.co.uk

A BEARSDEN dentist spoke this week of his relief that his step-daughter is making a good recovery after suffering a rare form of cancer.

Alasdair Reid (52), who has worked at Chartwell Dental Care, Bearsden, for the past 24 years, raised £22,500 for the Beatson Pebble Appeal by climbing Kilimanjaro last September with fellow dentist Stuart Craig from Auchinleck, Ayrshire.

After travelling to Tanzania it took them six days to climb the 19,341ft peak and the last day was a tough 15-hour trek, climbing 4,000ft and descending 7,500ft.

The father of three decided to raise money for Beatson Cancer Care after his eldest step-daughter Morvern McDonald (24), a physiotherapist, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March last year.

Alasdair, who is one of five partners at the practice, was ski-ing in Austria when he got the devastating news.

He said: “We thought she had been looking a bit plump, but it never rang an alarm bell. It was difficult to get your head around.

“Words cannot describe how we felt when Morvern was told just before Christmas that she appeared to be cancer free and that it hadn’t spread to her other ovary or uterus.

Beatson

“Her strength is returning and she doesn’t need any more chemotherapy but she needs to go for scans every six months and a check every three months to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned.”

During her illness, friends and family raised £26,000 for various cancer charities, including the Beatson through a 10k run and other events.

Morvern started putting on weight around Christmas 2010 but she put it down to eating too much and not exercising enough. Her waistline continued to expand no matter how much she exercised - sparking speculation from pals that she was pregnant.

When she went to the doctor she discovered the reason for the bulge, a three and a half pound tumour in her stomach the size of a football. Believing she only had a benign cyst, Morvern underwent routine surgery.

But her life was turned upside down when doctors found she had a rare form of ovarian cancer and needed emergency treatment.

She endured over a year of gruelling chemotherapy and has now been told she’s cancer free.

Morvern, who lives in Paisley, is now looking forward to getting her life back on track.

She said: “I looked five months pregnant. When you hear you have cancer it just sends you into shock, there is complete disbelief that something like that is happening to you.

“When they said I was all clear it really made Christmas and when the bells went at New Year it was almost as if it was a new chapter starting. Everyone was in tears.”

Morvern had an operation to remove the deadly 25cm tumour on her ovary - she also found out the cancer had spread to her lymphatic system and had some lymph nodes removed.

She said: “That type of cancer usually affects much older women.

“I didn’t know why this had happened, I don’t smoke or drink very much and I exercise and eat healthily.”

She lost her long brown hair during the chemotherapy and when test results arrived last November doctors were still unsure whether the cancer had gone completely. An agonising month later a biopsy revealed that she was cancer free.

She said: “I was over the moon and now I’m just trying to get back on my feet.

“My hair has grown back but it’s curly and it was straight before.

“My friends and family have been really supportive. Going through something like that makes you realise just how lucky you are.”

If you would like to donate to Alasdair’s appeal go to justgiving.com/morvern4thebeatson