A HELENSBURGH mum has thanked everyone who helped make the first fundraiser for her new Trust a success.

Kelly Andrews, 37, launched the Gary Andrews Remember a Life Trust last week and held a football match on Sunday April 1 at Cardross Football pitches to raise money.

The mum-of-one managed to raise £686.36 at the game which saw her son’s team, the Ardencaple 2003s beat the Tennessee 2003s 9-0.

She said: “On behalf of myself and all the family we would like thank everyone who attended, played and donated to our Gary Andrews Memorial Charity fundraising match.

“A big thank you to every participant, player, piper - Andrew, to the highland dancers from Margret Rose dance School who performed on the tennis courts and also to all the spectators and friends that came and helped me organise today, and everyone that donated generously for the charity.

“I would also like to thank Cardross Amateurs & tennis club for letting us host our match.”

As previously reported in the Advertiser, Kelly hopes the trust will be able to give money to local people in Helensburgh to improve their lives by paying a bill or a short holiday.

Kelly has insisted 5 per cent of the money raised will go to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Charity to help find a cure for the disease. Since she started fundraising four years ago, she has donated over £10,000 for the cause.

The football match was well by family, friends and supporters with players being piped onto the pitch by Andrew Aitken from Garelochhead.

On the day, people donated money in charity buckets, through the Easter egg tombola or by buying raffle tickets to win a signed Rangers top, wine or chocolates.

Kelly added: “I was happy it was good weather for us and we got such a great support from everyone in the community.”

The American visitors were treated to Scottish specialities such as Irn-Bru and had pies which “went down a treat because they had never had pies before,” Kelly added.

Kelly set up the Trust in memory of her husband Gary who died from lung cancer while on holiday in Salou with his family in 2013.

The next fundraiser will be a casino night at the Commodore Hotel on Saturday, 9 June. Tickets will cost £10.

Kelly said: “It’s only just started so we want to build on it with annual events.”