Even prison is no bar to helping our appeal
By Bill Hicks
THROUGHOUT OUR CHAS campaign, everyone has been generous to a fault, but when it comes to giving a percentage of your wages towards our cause, one group has surpassed themselves.
 Inmates at Glenochil Prison were treated to a Celebrity Sport In Question and the panel, who gave up their time to have questions fired at them from both long-term and young offenders, included a wealth of sporting talent.
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Back, from left, Dean Robertson,
Frankie MacKenzie, David Boal and Andy Nicol.
Front, prisoner Lee Riley, Alex Totten,
Governor Kate Donegan, Dougie Donnelly,
John Colquhoun, Ian Doyle and Kevin Drinkell.
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Hosting the event in the prison gym was Dougie Donnelly who, on his right, had former captain of the Scottish rugby team Andy Nicol, ex-Celt John Colquhoun and top Scottish golfer and former Italian Open Champion Dean Robertson.
On his left Dougie welcomed snooker promoter Ian Doyle, Falkirk director Alex Totten and ex-Ranger and now freelance football talent-spotter Kevin Drinkell.
Before things got under way, two inmates explained why the evening and CHAS were so important.
Three and a half years into his 121/2-year sentence, Frankie MacKenzie earns just £7 a week as a prison cleaner.
Sick children
“Anything to do with sick children always brings out the best in us and although a couple of 50p raffle tickets and the 50p entrance ticket represents a huge chunk of our earnings it doesn’t matter,” said Frankie, who has a boy of 10 and girl of eight.
“Every prisoner gets a £1 Christmas bonus and many spent it on this.
“My children are healthy and I’m thankful I can contribute something to those less fortunate.”
David Boal, 19 months into his six-year sentence, doesn’t follow sport but it didn’t stop him attending. “I earn £12 a week as a butcher, so I’m one of the better-paid since some prisoners earn just £3.50 a week,” said David, who has a 14-year-old daughter.
“However, that certainly didn’t stop them putting their hands in their pockets. Events like this break up our routine and the questions were thought up by the prisoners themselves,” added David.
After cheering the panel as they took their seats, it was down to business and, as you’d expect, no punches were pulled.
As the evening continued questions on a huge variety of sports were fired at the panel, all of which were answered admirably.
Lack of belief
“When the idea was first discussed there was a lack of belief stars would be prepared to come,” said Glenochil Governor Kate Donegan. “CHAS is one of a few charities which gets great support from inmates and there was great excitement when people realised that this event really was going to take place. Despite the fact inmates don’t have much money, many donated several pounds.
“I don’t think I’ve ever known them be so quiet for so long.”
To round off the evening, Dougie asked the panel what their proudest moment was, but the tables turned when one inmate asked him about his own. “I was warned not to build up the Scottish Olympic curlers too much, but for a group of ordinary women to do what they did this year was a high point in my career,” Dougie replied.
Of course, there’s now another one. Hosting Glenochil’s Sport In Question which raised £411 for CHAS. |
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hospice@sundaypost.com
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