A fundraising group set up in memory of a Livingston man who passed away after suffering cardiac arrest have hailed their ‘most successful’ event and racked up a massive new fundraising total.
The Paul Lynas Memorial Group raised £11,200 with a recent golf day and online auction which has taken the total amount raised to £70,000 in just four years – with £66,000 raised directly for the British Heart Foundation.
Paul sadly passed away aged 37 in 2017. The group was set up the following year to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and they are now also set to donate two defibrillators to communities within West Lothian.
A total of 72 golfers took to Uphall Golf Course on the day, with a special online raffle also helping to raise funds.
Paul’s brother-in-law, Ally Fleming, told The Courier he was humbled by the response. He said: “It was our most successful golf day yet and we were able to raise over £11,000.
“That takes us to over £70,000 in total since we started up in June 2018.
“We’ve raised £66,000 directly for British Heart Foundation but we’ve also now, over and above that, raised funds to buy two defibrillators.
“They’ll be placed in Eliburn and Bathgate shortly. Raising money and sharing Paul’s story is a great thing, but we also really wanted to provide the local communities with something that could make a real difference.
“Defibrillators are life-saving equipment and we’re really pleased to be able to donate two of them.”
He added: “It was the first golf day since 2019 due to covid and it was amazing to have 72 folk getting out of their bed at 6.30am on a Saturday to take part and to have that sort of figure raised.
“It shows what Paul ‘s story means and that it still resonates with people and that’s really humbling.
“The funds raised are obviously wonderful but it’s just one part.
“To hear folk chatting about Paul and how much they’ve enjoyed the day is really special.
“The response was incredible and the raffle as well was brilliant. We had great support from so many people and organisations.
“We had signed football shirts from Rangers, Everton and Man City and Kenny McLean replied to a comment on social media and took it upon himself to get a signed Scotland shirt sorted.
“There were all sorts of really great gifts that we generously donated and we wouldn’t be able to have achieved what we have without it.”
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