Carluke High pupils clean up for Ruaraidh Bason

Cleaning up...Carluke High School car wash team helped ensure an Ipad is now on its way to Ruaraidh (Pic Lindsay Addison)

Sixteen-year-old Ruaraidh Bason had only just left the school when he was diagnosed in July.

Despite leaving at the end of S4, Ruaraidh, described by former guidance teacher Stephen O’Neill as a gentle giant, was definitely not forgotten as the whole school, led by his former 4D classmates, raised money for him last week.

His mum Catriona is overwhelmed by the level of support the school pupils and staff have shown her son, who is currently in the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at the Beatson in Glasgow awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

She said: “I couldn’t believe the school wanted to do so much for us considering Ruaraidh isn’t actually there! Their support has been unbelievable.”

Ruaraidh, who lives in Glenafeoch Road with Catriona, dad Fred and 20-year-old sister Kirsty, left school to work on a local farm before being diagnosed.

Thanks to his school friends, an i-Pad will be on its way to him along with a few other goodies. The pupils raised the money from a charity carwash, football tournament, bake and book sale and guessing the number of sweets in a jar.

To find out more about the school’s fundraising, don’t miss this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.