AN Ettrickbridge schoolgirl has raised more than £1,000 for Children in Need from a concert and celidh she organised herself.
Katy Lowthian, daughter of well-known accordionist Ian, put together the gig in Ettrickbridge Village Hall last weekend.
Dad Ian said: “Katy has been planning this concert all year and we believe when all the money is collected we will have surpassed the £1,000 mark.
“There were musicians from across the Borders playing at the concert alongside Katy, who also plays the squeezebox. It was a great night.”
His 11-year-old daughter was so inspired by last year’s BBC Children in Need day that she pestered parents Ian and Janey for a year to let her organise last Saturday night’s fundraiser. Katy explained why she had wanted to raise money for Children in Need.
She told The Wee Paper: “I thought I was very lucky and I wanted to do something to help other people be lucky as well. I have a lot of things and I would like other people to get the same opportunities.”
The schoolgirl designed her own invitations, tickets and programme, and painted a picture of Pudsey bear which was raffled last Saturday night.
Her musical friends aged between nine and 17 took part, and the programme included singing, as well as music on clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, drums, keyboard and accordionists, including Katy herself.
Katy’s grandmother Evelyn Craig said: “The audience were left marvelling at the superb talent of all the young people who gave so enthusiastically of their time. All were accompanied by Katy’s dad Ian, and Katy herself compered the evening and proposed the vote of thanks to everyone who had helped her in any way.
“She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the family who were all justifiably very proud of her achievement.”
The evening included a supper and continued with a ceilidh, with music provided by dad Ian and brother Robin. Many of the evening’s musicians joined in.
Katy thanked her friends and local businesses who donated prizes for a raffle.
“Some of it (the evening) was quite difficult (to organise), but I think it was a good night, it was really fun.”