A TERMINALLY ill woman raising funds for the Greenock hospice that will eventually care for her has received support from TV star Martin Compston.
Shortly before her 50th birthday Laurie Milne was diagnosed with cancer and was given the devastating news that she had a year to live.
Laurie, mum to 16-year-old Alex, told the Tele: "I'd been going through a load of tests since April, which had initially been unrelated.
"One thing led to another, going from my kidney to my lung, and I was given a terminal diagnosis. We couldn't believe it.
"My first thought was for my son, I had to show him that it wasn't the end of my world, his world and the world. That good can come for bad."
The Largs woman decided to mark her milestone birthday with a big birthday bash and she also used the event to raise funds for Inverclyde's Ardgowan Hospice, where Laurie will eventually be cared for.
She added: "It was my 50th birthday party at the end of October so I thought let’s have a big, massive party and make it one to remember.
"I wanted it to be a big glad-rags bash and that's what we had at the Brisbane House Hotel, it was ticketed at £25 a head and we were able to raise a brilliant amount of cash.
"When the community heard that it was in aid of the hospice, the amount of raffle prizes and gifts that got donated was just amazing. I couldn't believe it.
“People just kept on giving me things to auction off."
One of her supporters was Line of Duty actor Martin Compston, who donated his Soccer Aid top from the high-profile match earlier this year as a raffle prize.
Compston, from Greenock, who is also a patron of the hospice, went a step further and thoughtfully sent a video message to Laurie ahead of her party.
In the message he said: “Hey Laurie how you doing pal, I hear you and your pals are getting together later this month to celebrate a magnificent milestone.
“Congratulations on hitting the big 5-0 and it is wonderful that you are putting this together with the hospice in mind with everything that you are going through.
“So keep smiling, keep laughing pal, I hope you all get properly kitted out and have a wonderful, wonderful night. All the best.”
Laurie as ‘blown away’ by the gesture and to make the night even more memorable, the star-struck fan won the big-ticket prize.
She said: "I'm a huge Martin Compston fan, I have been for years.
"I was totally blown away when the girls in the fundraising team at Ardgowan told me to sit down and that they had a surprise for me.
"It was only a video from the man himself, wishing me a happy birthday - I was totally blown away."
She added: "I made it my mission to get the top, but it turned out around three people started bidding to get this top. The bids went all the way up to about £570 - but they were all bidding for me to get it.
"So that night I managed to go home with Martin Compston - it was amazing.”
Laurie said the night raised around £8,000 for the hospice and a Just Giving page has generated a further £1,700.
Speaking about her future care, Laurie said: "I know they're an Inverclyde hospice but they've extended their invite to Largs for people like me which is really, really kind of them.
“It makes things so much easier for families and I'll forever be grateful to them for that."
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