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"Palazuelos was trying to get down to get a hold of Darren (McCormack). He (Palazuelos) would not win a fight in a chip shop, by the way. I get my kill. But the hard boys were in and I got myself across too, to cool his jets."

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500 miles for Ciara PDF Print E-mail
Written by youngy   
Friday, 29 January 2010 13:17

500 Miles for Ciara 

Folks, I make no apology for putting this story on a football website! I have just read in the Edinburgh Evening News about this poor family's battle with Edinburgh Council to get their daughter educated at the Royal Blind School and the subsequent need for her father, a soldier who has been serving his country for almost quarter of a century, to undertake a sponsored walk in order to get his daughter the care, attention and education that she requires. I have copied the story below from the Poppy Scotland website http://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/ciara (I have asked for permission to re-produce the story but have taken the liberty of publishing it before I hear back from them)

I have now heard back from Poppy Scotland and would like to thank them for giving their kind permission to reproduce Ciara's story on VFG. I would also like to wish them and Warrant Officer McGeary all the best and good luck with their campaign.

I am a soldier serving with the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and I've been in the army for 23 years. I'm now walking 500 miles across Scotland to raise funds for my daughter Ciara, who desperately needs specialist care. We have been badly let down by our local council who are putting costs before Ciara's care needs, a truly appalling decision which could have a devastating effect on her. All this is because, as a soldier, I was temporarily posted to an army base in England.

Ciara is now 13 but when she was just three days old she contracted meningitis, leaving her blind, unable to speak and suffering from a number of other disabilities. From the age of 6 months she received wonderful specialist care at Edinburgh's Royal Blind School but I was subsequently posted to Suffolk, forcing my family to move South with me.

Despite the best efforts of Ciara's new school it was clear that her quality of life was deteriorating. As parents it was heartbreaking to witness. In the army you don't get to choose where or when you are posted. When an opportunity finally arose to return to Edinburgh, I happily took it and gave up a chance of promotion to move Ciara back to where we knew she could once again thrive. We knew The Royal Blind School was the only place that would provide the level of care Ciara needs. She had been happy and had done well there and we were delighted at the prospect of her returning.

On our return home to Edinburgh we were stunned when local council refused to renew funding for Ciara's place at the Royal Blind School. Instead they offered a place at an alternative school which does not specialise in care for the visually impaired.

An independent tribunal was set up to review our case and concluded unanimously that the Royal Blind School was the best option for Ciara. The tribunal recognised that if it were not for my job as a soldier, which required me to move away from Edinburgh in serving my country, Ciara would still be at the Royal Blind School in a place funded by the City Council. The Council were ordered to make the necessary funding available immediately.

After several weeks of inaction, we were told by the Council just days before Christmas that they were appealing against the tribunal's decision at the Court of Session. They had hired one of the country's top Advocates to fight their case, which we understand may cost the taxpayer up to £160,000 in legal fees. The annual cost of Ciara's education at the Royal Blind School would be £38,000.

We were faced with two options - to allow the Council to dictate what was best for Ciara purely on financial grounds, or fund Ciara's schooling in the short term ourselves while we fight the Council's indefensible and uncaring position in court.

Poppyscotland have been swift in their support to us. Within days of contacting them they had committed enough money to get Ciara back into school immediately. Unfortunately there are many, many demands made on Poppyscotland's support and they can only fund this place for the month it will take me to complete my challenge.

That's why I'm walking 500 miles around Scotland to raise enough money to keep Ciara in school until the Court of Session hears our case. If, like me, you feel outraged by the Council's decision to abandon Ciara because I'm a serving soldier then please lend us your support. While our priority is to get the level of care that Ciara urgently needs, we are also fighting for the rights of all service families, who face difficulties like this because they choose to serve their country.

A donation page is being set up and will be available soon.

Follow my progress on Poppyscotland's Twitter page.

Thank youWarrant Officer Class 1 Mac McGearey 

I have never met Warrant Officer McGearey and, to the best of my knowledge, have no connection to him or any member of his family. I also have no idea if he is a Hearts, Hibs, Celtic, Rangers or Buckie Thistle fan for that matter....and I don't really care. I just think that the way him and his family have been treated by the council is nothing short of disgraceful and I would urge you, if you can at all afford it, to make a donation for his cause whenever he gets his donation page up and running.

Cheers, youngy

The donation site is now up and running folks. You can visit the page and make your pledge here>>> http://my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=278687 

Last Updated on Monday, 01 February 2010 11:34
 
rivals4charity update PDF Print E-mail
Written by youngy   
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 08:26

I received an email late last night informing me that the charity to benefit from this year's Edinburgh Charity Match has now been chosen.

The winner of the vote on the rivals4charity site was the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. Once again, a really worthwhile cause.

Scott Moncrieff and the rest of the organisers are now looking for somebody to take on the mantle of main sponsor for the event. There are various options on the sponsorship and if you know anybody who might be interested or, may even be interested yourself, then you can visit their website HERE or, you can contact Scott directly by clicking HERE.

You can read all about the charity by clicking HERE. Or if you won't be able to make it to the match or any of the other fund-raisers, you can donate directly to the MSTC HERE.

 
Happy Birthday PDF Print E-mail
Written by youngy   
Friday, 15 January 2010 10:55

...Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday Tynecastle 2010, erm...2011, erm...?

That's right folks. The planning application submitted by Hearts for the great, big, shiny new stand we were promised, turns two years old on Monday (18/01/2010).

And, my question, is this. What is happening with the damn thing?

Last Updated on Friday, 15 January 2010 11:09
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Vote for... PDF Print E-mail
Written by youngy   
Monday, 11 January 2010 13:07

...well for whatever you want, really.

By now you should, hopefully, at least be aware that we put together a set of pictures to be used in a VFG calendar. The pictures came from a few sources. Heartsgirl and myself braved swamps, biting insects and the rest to capture a few. Tyniterror braved a Heart of Midlothian Euro trip to Zagreb to get his. Oldhamjambo caused some poor fresh produce stall-holder to re-arrange his wares. DigrsSlopBukit took time out from his house building to play with tiles. While F.J provided the inspiration for the use of billboards outside Easter Road.

So, if you haven't seen it already. Click HERE and have a little flick through the pages. And then place a vote for whichever picture is your favourite by selecting a month in the poll on the left hand side of the front page. The winning picture will be announced at a later date.

Cheers, youngy

Last Updated on Monday, 11 January 2010 13:26
 
Calling all amateur hacks PDF Print E-mail
Written by youngy   
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 06:14

Are you a budding Mark Donaldson, Jim Traynor or, God forbid, a Chick Young (only kidding...Chick is one the few journalists that have been happy to get back to me on the odd occassion I have contacted them)?

 

Well did you know that you are free to contribute articles to View From Gorgie? And it's really rather easy to do too.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 14:16
Read more...
 

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