An Angus mother planning a fundraising day for her amputee son has been helped by the Boys’ Brigade.
Pensioner Jane Burgess was quoted £9 per hour to hire Carnoustie Leisure Centre to hold a fun day to benefit her son, Greig Yorke, 39, who lost his left leg in an accident in June.
The 68-year-old, who is from Carnoustie, said she was surprised to be told booking the public venue would incur a such a fee.
A council spokeswoman explained: “A flat rate applies for the hire of leisure centre premises.
“However, anyone can apply for a reduction by writing to the council’s leisure services division and this would be considered.”
Jane said: “We went down there and told them we were going to hold a fun day after a walk from Dundee to Carnoustie.
“They said we would have to fill in a form and that it would cost £9 per hour to hire the hall, to which I just thought, wow!
“Apparently they have got to charge and that was a reduced rate.
“At that point we didn’t have any funds and if I had paid for that it would have been a lot of money coming out of my pocket.”
Jane was put in touch with the custodians of the town’s Boys’ Brigade Hall who approved the use of their venue on Maule Street for a heavily discounted £3.50 per hour.
Captain Neil Russell said: “The fee is to cover the cost of the gas and electric.
“We are delighted to be able to support such a good initiative.”
A date of October 20 has now been set for the event, which will include stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle and other attractions.
All funds raised will go towards paying for a specialised prosthetic limb for Greig, once his stump has fully healed.
Other planned fundraisers include an arts, crafts and therapies day at Serenity Sanctuary on Dundee Street on August 18, and a “wheelie walk” that will see people cross the Tay Bridge in wheelchairs and on bikes and scooters on September 1.