KINDHEARTED Uplawmoor Hotel staff have vowed to spend a month raising funds for a worthy local cause.

Employees are currently in the middle of a four-week-long series of events organised with the intention of generating money for the Brightest Star.

The Brightest Star charity was set up by Renfrewshire woman Arlene Smith in honour of her son Jack, who tragically died aged five after contracting a virus in 2012.

An adenovirus left Jack starved of oxygen, causing him to suffer significant brain damage before his heart stopped beating just six days before his sixth birthday.

Jack’s heartbroken mum spent weeks trawling the internet searching for help to cope with losing her child but it was not readily available.

Arlene then decided to launch the Brightest Star to provide bereaved families with a support service that would give them the chance to meet others in a similar position and access professional help.

Uplawmoor Hotel owner Emma Peacock is one of the thousands to have been moved by Jack’s story.

That is why she and her colleagues chose to arrange a raft of fundraisers on behalf of the charity.

The month of fundraising began with the Great Scottish Run 10k in Glasgow before the hotel hosted a quiz night on October 7.

Emma, who along with fellow staff members Yvonne Fennel, Louise Taylor, Jenna Taylor and Iona Macleod raised over £600 running the 10k, is hopeful the event is only the start of a successful month of fundraising.

She said: “What a beautiful day we had, we were so lucky to have great weather. There was a lot of support on the route“We all did better than we thought, It was great to see so many people out there running for different causes.

“We’re fundraising for the whole month; we’re doing various things to raise money for the Brightest Star.

“The Brightest Star is a local charity that’s close to all our hearts and it’s a great cause.

“We’re calling this month Auchtoberfest. We are doing Kelburn real ales, Scottish gins, special hotdogs and a certain amount is going to go to the charity during the month of October.”

Uplawmoor Hotel has a variety of fundraising events for the Brightest Star planned throughout this month, including a Hallowe’en karaoke night on October 28, to try and raise vital funds for the Brightest Star.

Those interested in contributing to any of the hotel’s upcoming fundraisers can like the Uplawmoor Hotel Facebook page to stay up-to-date.

Alternatively, call 01505 850565 for further details.

To learn more about Jack’s story and the services The Brightest Star offers, visit brighteststar.org.uk.