A family-of-four from the Shawlands area have shown just how generous Glaswegians are after raising hundreds for a refugee charity.
Gillian Armstrong, 45, and Vikki Graham, 46 - together with six-year-old Margot and nine-year-old Inés - have completed a family fitness challenge to raise funds for Glasgow-based charity Refuweegee.
The community-led charity gives those who've left their homes in search of a better life a warm welcome here in Glasgow. The team work to ensure anyone who's been forced to flee their homes arrive in Scotland feeling safer.
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Gillian and her wife Vikki were inspired to take part in a fitness challenge after reading books and watching films about refugees.
Speaking with Glasgow Live, Gillian said: "We home educate the girls and are part of a book club where we read ‘The boy at the back of the class’. It’s about a wee boy from Syria who ends up in a school in London.
"It sparked lots of conversations about what is a refugee and how you become a refugee. It’s a great book and very inspiring
"My partner and I also watched The Swimmers, which is based on a true story about two young women from Syria who try to make their way to Germany. It’s quite overwhelming to read stories like that and think there’s an ever increasing number of families going through this around the world.
"The refugee crisis is getting worse day by day as a result of conflict or climate change."
Over the last three weeks, Gillian did a three-hour swim and Vikki participated in a 12km row followed by a 12km run.
Margot ran 12k over 10 days and Inés did a 12km row. The family have so far raised over £600 for Refuweegee.
Gillian said: "As a family, we are quite up for a physical challenge and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. Adrenaline kicks in and it’s a good process.
"It was quite humbling thinking what other people have got to endure. They don’t know the outcome of what it is that they are doing, which has really struck me recently.
"These refugees are leaving home and stepping into the unknown and that’s how desperate they are. They just don’t know if they are going to make it or where they are going to end up.
"It’s just tragic and the fact that people are willing to leave behind the only place they know as home and the community they’ve known because of real danger is terrifying."
She added: "We’ve all got to do our bit to help these people find new homes and security. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the work people do at Refuweegee.
"I would hope Glasgow is a welcoming place for people to come to, it’s one of the friendliest cities I’ve been to.
"We are living in hard times where a lot of people are feeling the pinch with the cost of living crisis, but I think Glaswegian people generally are, in spite of their own personal circumstances, very generous people and will help the man in the street as best they can even if they don’t have too much themselves.
"Glaswegians are generous spirits."
To donate to the fundraising appeal and support the work Refuweegee do, click here.
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