Archive Hour: 2009 venture was a hit for ex-Helensburgh man

Here's how we reported on William's efforts in the Advertiser on June 11, 2009...

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A FORMER Helensburgh man is celebrating the success of a charity initiative to raise funds in support of sick kids.

We told two weeks ago how big-hearted William Glover overcame adversity on a former charity project to launch a drive to raise funds for the Children’s Hospice Association’s Rachel House hospice.

The 37-year-old, who was beaten and left for dead in slum town Ecuador during a charity trek in South America - before being kidnapped, robbed and bitten by a poisonous snake, during the overseas project year in 2006 - didn’t let the ordeal dampen his enthusiasm and instead bounced back with the new fund-raising venture.

He trekked the slightly-less dangerous shores of Loch Lomond to create the guide book Pack-a-Picnic - Five Days in & around Loch Lomond, currently on sale in aid of CHAS’ Balloch facility.

The launch event at Cameron House last week defied even William’s deepest expectations, when copies of the book sold out in one afternoon.

Hotel bosses backed the event and provided afternoon tea, as well as champagne, for guests.

Former St Patrick’s High pupil William, who still has family in the Burgh, said: “We are now going on to the second print run because the first batch of around 250 books sold out. Things are moving quite well and it’s raised quite a bit for CHAS already.”

In fact, the sale has already raised £1,000, with orders pouring in from as far afield as Canada, the US, New Zealand and Australia, through William’s website.

He told the Advertiser: “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s gone far better than I expected. Cameron House were really outstanding, they did so much for us and even provided champagne on the day.”