Buddies donate camping gear after bad outdoors experience.

Oct 1 2010 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

A CARING couple have answered an SOS from a desperate dance school after reading about their plight in the Paisley Daily Express.

Young Buddies are hoping to dress to impress when they head to London to take part in a glitzy show to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Razzamataz dance group.

A fundraising event will take place tonight to help pay for the trip and George Cowan and his wife Sandra, from Gallowhill, Paisley, were only too happy to donate a whole range of camping equipment for the prize auction.

George, 49, explained: “We just wanted to help the girls out. It’s a big moment for them and, if our gear goes some way towards getting them the costumes they need, then that’s great.

“We don’t have any use for the camping equipment any more.

“Sandra doesn’t keep too well, so we thought it might be a good idea to get her outdoors for some fresh air but it was probably the single worst idea I’ve ever come up with.

“We headed down to Prestwick with all the latest gear and were really looking forward to pitching the tent in a nice spot.

“We were ready to embrace the great outdoors and everything was going really well until gale force winds almost turned our tent into a light aircraft.

“The winds were accompanied by torrential rain and, within minutes, the tent was flooded.

“We made a run for it and spent the night in the car.”

George, who is a full-time carer for Sandra, added: “It was one of those things that sounded like a good idea at the time.”

When the couple read that 16 kids from Paisley’s Razzamataz group were holding a fundraiser, they decided to donate their equipment.

It includes a four-man tent, four sleeping bags, a stove, tables, beds and lots of other goodies.

The Razzamataz kids will also take in a West End musical while they are in London.

And fundraiser Elizabeth Emmerson, who is close friends with the Paisley Razzamataz principal teacher Natalie James, is keen to ensure the group are properly attired on their trip of a lifetime.

She has organised a charity quiz and auction night at The Buchanan Arms Hotel in Drymen, Stirlingshire.

Elizabeth said: “This is a fantastic gesture by George and Sandra.

“I’m hoping that the camping equipment they’ve donated can help us reach our fundraising goal.

“This year is the 10th anniversary of Razzamataz and, to celebrate this, children from all around the UK are putting on a show in a West End theatre in London on Sunday, November 28.

“There will be over 300 students taking part and 16 of these will be from the Paisley school.

“All proceeds from the quiz night and auction will go towards making sure they have great costumes.”