A FAMILY are set to welcome hundreds of people to Greenock Town Hall this weekend in a bid to raise £20,000 for a cause close to their hearts.

Relatives of 68-year-old Janice McClurg, from Greenock, are hosting a dinner dance and auction on October 5 in aid of Alzheimer Scotland.

The charity has provided support the McClurg family since Janice was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018.

Husband John said: "It's been tough.

"It's been tougher recently because she was rushed in for emergency surgery and the consultant told us that the Alzheimer's would get worse due to the anaesthetic.

"That was March and there's been a big change in her since then."

John organised a sponsored walk earlier this year (Image: John McClurg) John decided to organise a charity event after being encouraged to do so by daughter Lynsey and granddaughter Beth.

They hosted a sponsored walk in June as the first phase of the fundraiser, which pulled in just under £12,000 in donations.

John, who previously ran First Touch football coaching, was delighted to be joined at the event by many of his former players.

He told the Tele: “They’re all grown up now and they’ve got their own families, so the numbers for the sponsored walk were unbelievable.

“It was just great to catch up with folk I haven’t seen in over 20 years.”

Friends Veronica and Joe Nelis, who own Greenock’s Tontine, offered to host a gathering after the walk, which was attended by 120 adults and 60 children.

Janice and John’s son Mark also flew in from Jersey to join the walk, along with his children Willow and Woody.

The dinner dance will form the second phase of the fundraising effort, with more than 30 lots set to be auctioned off on the night.

The auction includes a range of signed football strips, including tops signed by the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Scotland star John McGinn.

Actor Martin Compston has also donated his match-worn Soccer Aid strip from this years event, which is signed by his World XI teammates - including Usain Bolt.

A number of golf experiences are also up for grabs at courses such as St Andrews, Gleddoch Golf Club and Gourock Golf Club.

READ MORE: Martin Compston donates strip to Alzheimer Scotland auction

John added: “When I initially started doing it, I thought I’d maybe get half a dozen strips.

“The support I’ve had from people I know through football is just unreal.”

John and his family hope the auction will help them reach their fundraising goal of £20,000.

The money will go towards supporting the work of Alzheimer Scotland, which runs a club at its Inverclyde Dementia Resource Centre on Nicol Street attended by Janice three times per week.

Janice is also supported by sisters Audrey Lyne and Fiona Church, as well as a group of friends affectionately known as the ‘coffee girls’.

John said: “Alzheimer Scotland provide a service that gives us a bit of time to ourselves.

"It’s a brilliant wee centre. It’s just a different class.

“Hopefully we can get £20,000 all in, but we’ll be happy with whatever we get for a good cause.”

The auction is now live online, with bids being accepted at jumblebee.co.uk.