Ellon barber Angela Birnie marks 40 years in business by supporting charity
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Ellon's Angela Birnie set out to raise £500 for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland – only to make 10 times that amount.
Angela wanted “to do some good” to mark 40 years in business at the town's Al’s Barber Shop.
The 67-year-old’s mother had a stroke in 2019 before she passed away and her father had heart disease.
So the grandmother held a prize draw in aid of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) in October last year with dozens of prizes donated by local businesses and kind-hearted locals.
Angela could not believe the end result when she raised £5100 from an original aim of £500.
She said: “I wanted to mark the 40 years in business and I wanted to do something good.
“I’ve had family members and customers who have had strokes and I care about my family and customers and I just want to help people locally.
“I know of the work CHSS do nationally and everything they do for people and I wanted to help out. I carry advice cards now that I hand out to customers.
“I’ve just been overwhelmed by the generosity of customers, businesses and friends alike. I feel very fortunate.”
Angela’s husband, Neil, said she is very much the fabric of the Ellon community and the support her fundraiser was shown is a testament to that fact.
Anne Magarin, community, events and corporate fundraiser for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland said: “We are so thankful to Angela and the Ellon community for raising such a tremendous amount of money for CHSS.
“It’s amazing to see the whole community rally behind Angela’s fundraising efforts and give so generously for such a worthwhile cause.
“The funds raised will help us to support the one in five people across the country who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and long Covid to live their lives to the full.”
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland is committed to reaching 175,000 people living with its conditions across Scotland a year by 2028 through its community healthcare support services.
To find out more about fundraising for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland visit www.chss.org.uk/supportus/fundraise-for-us/
People living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or long Covid and looking for advice and information, contact Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland’s advice line on 0808 801 0899. People can also text NURSE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk
