Couple host wild West Lothian garden shindig in memory of their neighbour
A big-hearted Bathgate couple who threw a shindig in the garden of their home raised over £2,750 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Angie and Gordon Raeburn, who live in the town's Mill Road, know only too well how cancer can affect anyone at any time.
Angie, 60, recovered from bowel cancer 12 years ago, and recently a much-loved neighbour of theirs, Ian Baynham, passed away after a period of illness.
The couple's garden was transformed into the Saddle Up Saloon complete with swing doors for last weekend's hoedown.
It's the fourth charity fundraising day they've held at their home since Angie's illness. Unbeknown to Angie at the time, her niece put her name forward for a mention in the Scottish Parliament a few years ago, in recognition of her fundraising efforts.
They were encouraged to go for the wild west theme this time around by their two daughters, who are aged 34 and 30.
Angie said: 'My neighbour Iain just passed away and was only buried six weeks ago. We held it in our garden last Saturday. It's our fourth one in 12 years. I had bowel cancer and it kind of inspired us to have our first one.
'We had around 80 people here and raised a total of £2,761 in the one afternoon. It was an amazing amount.
'The only things outwith the afternoon were raffles tickets which we sold at work, but everything else was raised in-house in the garden.
'It was a western theme, which came from my daughters as it's part of a big thing with the young pop stars now.
'We happened to tell the DJ from the local pub, Nick Gallagher, that we were having this and he came and done it for free and my husband made up a playlist. Nick also done the quiz, he's a fabulous man.
"The only thing he asked for was some flavoured tea bags and we didn't have any, so I'm going to take him some up to his quiz night at the pub.'
Gordon, 62, said: 'When our neighbour Ian had his cancer and he was dying, the Marie Curie nurses came in to care for him and comfort him. So that's why we chose them.'
'It was all very quickly put together,' Angie added. 'He was only buried six weeks ago after passing away.'
The couple thanked local businesses; Present Time, Niche, Boghall Butchers, and the Bay Leaf Indian Restaurant for their kind donations and support.
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