Bearsden family to play tennis for 24 hours for Parkinson's UK

Jacqui Gourlay, 44, her husband Steven, 52, and her daughter Abigail, 14, will take to the court at Westerton Tennis Club on Sunday, April 10 at 5pm.

They will play until 5pm the following evening in a bid to raise as much as possible for the charity.

The family decided to combine their love for the sport with a good cause after Jacqui's 74-year-old mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2021.

Jacqui, Abigail and Steven

Jacqui said: “My mum got diagnosed with Parkinson's just at the end of last year. She hadn't been well for a long time and we actually thought it might have been long Covid but she saw two consultants and they confirmed her diagnosis.

“Ever since then, my daughter had been thinking of what she could do to help her gran and to show how she cared in a slightly different way. 

"She wanted to do a fundraiser and it was after we saw a couple of 24-hour challenges that it got my daughter thinking that we could do something like that."

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Jacqui added: "We're a tennis-playing family, my mum plays too, so it was my suggestion that we could play tennis for 24 hours.

"We spoke about it for a while and then decided we had to fully commit and say we would do it and not back out. My mum thinks we're nuts but she's hoping to come and join us in spells on the day."

Abigail and Jacqui

The trio will finish their tennis-athon on World Parkinson's Day, and hope to manage the tough shift with the help and support of loved ones and the tennis club. 

Jacqui added: "The tennis club is just across the road from us and we knew that World Parkinson's Day was coming up so we thought that would be a nice day to finish on.

"So the plan is to start at 5pm on Sunday 10th and we'll be on court for the full 24 hours until Sunday 11th. Between the 3 of us, there will always be 2 of us on court and we're encouraging family and friends to come and make up a 4.

"The local club has been really supportive too and we've shared it locally on social media and between our work. It's all outdoors so we're praying the weather is nice but if it's chucking it down we're still going to do it." 

The family are delighted with their fundraising efforts so far, having raised triple the amount of their target.

Jacqui said: "We know it's not going to be easy but I think the satisfaction of raising this money will make us all feel really good. We set a target of £1,000 but have tripled that and raised over £3,000 so far!

"We thought we would start at 5pm and get the night out the way and then the coach will be there on Monday during the day and said he can help try to distract us and there is an Easter camp on too.

"We're just hoping we get plenty of distractions to keep us going. I'm going to bake some cakes with the Parkinson's UK logo on them for people coming along and we've got our Parkinson’s UK t-shirts as well.

"My mum doesn't sleep well at the moment so she said if she wakes up during the night she'll come down with some rolls and sausage!

"We're not going to be having full on matches, we thought we'd mix it up and have some challenges like 100 volley-rallys going between two of us or if my mum is fit to play we'll play a full doubles match."

Jacqui, Abigail and Steven

Jan Mattison, Regional Fundraiser for West of Scotland, said: “Jacqui has set herself a real challenge by committing to a 24-hour tennis marathon.

"It’s great to see the family do something they love to help raise awareness of Parkinson’s this World Parkinson’s Day.

“The family have raised over £3,000 so far and we’re incredibly grateful to them for their support.

"There are over 1,000 people in Glasgow who live with Parkinson’s and we are sure this will put a smile on their faces.

"We wish them the best of luck for their challenge.”

To donate to the family's fundraiser, click here.