Former Scotland manager Craig Brown has become the latest in a long line of high-profile figures to be touched by the plight of a set of Angus twins bidding to walk unaided for the first time.
Aberdeen FC manager Brown has donated £200 to a fund which Carnoustie couple Averil Fleming and Frazer Hirsch hope will enable two-year-old Ayley and Chloe to travel to the US for a life-changing operation unavailable on the NHS.
The family needs to raise £80,000 for both girls who suffer from cerebral palsy and face a life of immobility unless they undergo the complex procedure to have the surgery carried out by leading medics at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.
The veteran coach learned of the campaign through the twins’ grandfather, former Dundee FC and Aberdeen striker Ian Fleming, and immediately pledged to help the family raise their target amount.
Brown, who became friendly with Fleming on an SFA coaching course in Largs, described the fund-raising drive as “one of the most worthwhile appeals” he has been made aware of throughout his career.
He said, “I have six grandchildren myself and I am very fortunate that they have no health problems but hearing of Ian’s granddaughters reminded me just how lucky I am to have a healthy family.
“In football and I noticed this particularly when I was at Scotland there are many charities and good causes asking for your help.
“But I am a personal friend of Ian’s and this is such an excellent cause that it was easy to offer my support.”
He added, “The family has a massive amount of work to do but they are doing a fantastic job.
“Ian is one of the most genuine guys I have ever met he is a very good player and coach and I have lots of experience working with him.
“In fact, they just seem like such a genuine family and I hope everything goes well for them.”
The Scottish football community has rallied round the family since Averil and Frazer made the decision to begin fund-raising in an attempt to give their daughters the independence they thought they would never have.