OREANDA-NEWS. A kind hearted team of SSE employees in Cumbernauld have raised more than f800 at a charity football match.

Members of the customer services team rallied behind colleague Andy Dodd’s efforts to raise money for Baird Memorial Primary and Nursery in the town.

Andy’s daughter Lily, 3, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy two years ago and she relies on the use of a wheelchair to get around.

After her previous nursery closed, Lily was moved into the under-fives centre at Baird Primary, where Andy and his wife Emma became aware of a fundraising campaign to buy a minibus with wheelchair access.

Andy, who works in Final Accounts in SSE’s Cumbernauld office, said: “Lily was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy around two years ago, and it was a desperate time for us.

“We were told that she might never walk, but the difference the nursery has made has been incredible.

“Lily loves the nursery and she has a special frame there to help her to walk and every day they spend time with her using it and she is able to move about.

“It is nice to be able to do something to repay them and this is something that will also help children like Lily in the future.

“The school said that this was something they were looking to fund and I thought that it was only fitting I become involved and raised some funds myself.”

Staff and parents have been busily raising money to hit their target of f6,000, with the hope they can secure additional funding to take the total to f16,000.

And Andy said he was touched by the level of support he received from his colleagues for the idea.

He added: “The boys in the call centre have been so supportive and have raised a lot of money off their own backs.

“Once I mentioned the idea, they basically took it and ran with it - they organised it all themselves and many of the players I haven’t met before, they didn’t know our family’s situation but they wanted to help. I really cannot praise them enough.

“The idea was that anyone who wanted to play had to raise a minimum of f30, with the match being held at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday 1 March.

“The headteacher at the nursery couldn’t believe how many people at SSE were prepared to help and I would like to say a special thanks to the staff at Broadwood Stadium, who were great on the night and also to Shaun O’Connor who raised over f100 on his own.”

Andy, Emma and Lily will be planning a cheque presentation at the nursery soon to hand over the funds raised.