RESEARCH INTO two of Scotland’s most dangerous and distressing conditions has been boosted by the generosity of Arbroath couple Jean and Jim McKellar and their family and friends.

To mark their golden wedding anniversary last month, the couple decided they would rather help the Meningitis Research Foundation and Cancer Research UK than receive gifts and asked those who wanted to mark their special day to do so by making a donation to their chosen charities.

Their selfless gesture resulted in £1200 being raised and Jean and Jim visited the Cancer Research UK shop in Arbroath High Street yesterday to hand over cheques for £600 to representatives of each of the two organisations.

The couple’s lives have been touched by both cancer and meningitis. In 1998 their 17-year-old niece Hazel Robertson, then a pupil at Arbroath High School, died after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.

Meningitis Research Foundation medical information officer Robbie Coleman, who accepted the cheque on behalf of the charity, said, “We are very grateful to Jean and Jim for their generosity in supporting a worthwhile cause.”

The foundation provides help and support to thousands of families and, with public support, currently funds more than 20 research projects aimed at developing treatments and vaccines.