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A TARBERT mother whose son was left for dead in a horror road accident, described the close-knit community as an ‘amazing village’ last weekend.
Mary McMillan was left speechless as hundreds of locals raised thousands of pounds in aid of the Andrew McMillan Rehabilitation Fund.
Seventeen local men were sponsored to take part in an exhausting triathlon starting on Gigha. When they had all made their way back to Tarbert wearing t-shirts with a picture of Andrew on the front, there were cheers of admiration as it was revealed the triathlon alone had raised over £8,800.
A charity bowls competition also took place during the day raising £500. Harry Robertson, Donald McLachland and Tommy McCrae of Ardrishaig won the competition, with runners-up being the Campbeltown trio of Andy Gilchrist, Jimmy Anderson and Bobby Dalziel.
A dance swung into action at Tarbert Bowling Club on Saturday night, where kind- hearted locals put their hands in their pockets to the tune of £1,700.
A raffle and collection buckets in the village Co-op store also added over £700 to the coffers.
The McMillan family has been astounded at the support they have received from locals since Andrew’s accident on March 13, 2007, which tragically claimed the life of his best pal Alasdair MacDougall.
The 19 year-old was given no hope of survival, but 17 months later, he has astounded doctors with his progress. Andrew’s family and friends were thrilled when he started to talk again only three months ago.
Brother Jamie said this week: ‘Andrew is currently in Murdostoun Castle Rehabilitation Centre in Wishaw, which is funded by insurance and the NHS at the moment.
‘The situation is reviewed every eight weeks and could be stopped at any time, and that’s why my friend Duncan McGregor organised the fundraising event.’
Fireman Duncan was one of the first people to arrive at the scene of the accident on the Tarbert to Lochgilphead road, and will never forget the devastation he was met with that night. However, like everyone else in the village, Duncan is determined to see Andrew get back home, and is over the moon at the success of last weekend’s event.
Jamie added: ‘There are so many people to thank for raising so much money such as Duncan, William McSporran MBE for starting the triathlon competitors off on Gigha, Gordon and Jane Watson from Gigha boats activity centre and Lochgilphead butcher Eric for the use of their kayaks, Dave ‘kayak’ McBride, for the use of his kayaks and also his tuition on the day and weeks before the event, Tarbert Yacht Club and Keith Helm for safety boats, Jim, Angus, John and Donald for road safety vehicles, the Gigha girls for ‘water stops’, and everyone who made a donation however big or small.’
To keep up to date with Andrew’s progress, log onto the blog Jamie has set up at www.andrewmcmillan.blogspot.com
