Forres Mechanics Youth Development raised £800 for the Marie Curie charity for looking after Graeme Esson and Abi Clark

A local sports club has donated nearly £1000 to the charity that provided end of life care to a coach who died of cancer last year.

Forres Mechanics Youth Development (FMYD) raised £800 for Marie Curie during their annual awards nights earlier this summer - the end-of-life specialists helped look after Graeme Esson as well as two sons of local mum, Abi Clark, who graduated from the programme but also sadly died following battles with the disease.

Head coach Allan Friskin felt the choice of recipient was appropriate due to the impact their deaths had on the Cans.

He said: “Both families told me about how good Marie Curie was with their end-of-life care. We wanted to show our appreciation for the great work the charity does in Moray.”

Marie Curie provides hospice care and support for anyone with an illness they are likely to die from, and those close to them, providing nursing services, hospices and support line calls. It campaigns for better support for dying people, and is the largest charitable UK funder of palliative and end of life care research.

Marie Curie Moray fundraising group leader, Veronica MacLeod, accepted the donation in person at Mosset Park.

She said: “A huge thanks goes out to Forres Mechanics. The Elgin and Moray Marie Curie Fundraising Group is thrilled with the wonderful donation.

“It will make all the difference to this special charity. The care our nurses give to patients at the end of their life is second to none.

“It’s incredibly important that patients should be able to die at home and Marie Curie helps with this. They looked after my husband at the end of his life and I am determined to raise as much money as possible to give everyone this special care.”

For more information visit https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/local/groups/moray-fundraising-group

Nearly 300 people attended three FMYD awards nights at Forres Golf Club in June, celebrating the progress and achievements of the under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 squads.

FMYD coordinator Dave McCartney confirmed the scheme gets tremendous support from players' parents.

https://www.forres-gazette.co.uk/sport/players-tribute-to-their-coach-305334/

He said: “It was no surprise when they pitched in at the awards nights and made donations to such a worthy cause possible.

“It's not just that their children are always prepared for training and matches, well turned out and ready to give their best. They support the coaches in many other ways, including fundraising.”

FMYD now features eight teams from under-8 to under-18 level. Three under-18s joined the first team for their preseason preparation, getting a run-out in all of their friendlies.

FMYD now has almost 20 volunteer coaches, developing around 150 players in eight squads. Most are parents.

“We are delighted when mums or dads express interest in coaching,” said Dave. “We can arrange for them to receive the required disclosure checks and then Scottish Football Association-accredited training which will see them badged as officially recognised coaches.”