A BARRHEAD man whose sister lost both legs to sepsis is to take part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for a charity that supported her.

Ronnie Lewis, 57, will tackle the Kiltwalk later this month as a way to give something back to East Renfrewshire Good Causes (ERGC).

And, every step of the way, he’ll be using his sister Linda as inspiration.

It was in April last year that Linda, 55, lost both of her legs, as well as suffering a heart attack.

She was given an electric wheelchair by ERGC, run by Russell Macmillan, which has significantly improved her quality of life.

The charity also paid for the installation of a ramp to help Linda get in and out of her home and provided money to make her kitchen more accessible.

Ronnie told the Barrhead News: “I just felt that, after everything he did for my sister after she lost her legs, Ronnie deserves to have something given back.

“The work he does is absolutely amazing and he was so helpful with Linda.”

Ronnie, who works in the bakery section at the Tesco store at Silverburn, will stride out on the Kiltwalk on Sunday, April 24.

“I’m looking forward to doing the walk,” he added. “I’ve been getting plenty of steps in to prepare.”

Linda, who also lives in Barrhead, told how the support she has had from ERGC has made a huge difference.

She said: “I left hospital with a wheelchair that was no use to me. It was too wide to get through doorways and I kept getting trapped inside rooms in my own house.

“Then I was told by a friend to contact Russell because he might be able to help me.

“I was sent to a mobility shop in East Kilbride. The man there let me try one of the electric chairs, which I loved, but I didn’t have the funds right there on the spot to buy it.

“The man went away for five minutes and then came back and told me the chair had been purchased by East Renfrewshire Good Causes and it was mine to take home.

“I cried because I was so happy and so grateful. I didn’t expect such generosity. The wheelchair has changed everything.”

Linda is also full of praise for Ronnie and his fundraising efforts.

“I’m so grateful that he is giving something back to Russell,” she added.

“The things East Renfrewshire Good Causes has done for people needing help is incredible.

“It has helped women in domestic violence situations, families struggling with poverty, elderly people needing something fixed in their home – the list goes on.

“The charity does everything it can to help anyone who needs it.”

For more information about ERGC, visit www.ergoodcauses.co.uk.

To support Ronnie’s efforts by making a donation, visit https://glasgow.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/GlasgowKiltwalk2022-RonnieLewis.