TWO FAMILIES with strong Dunoon connections will be taking on the same daunting challenge this Sunday — abseiling from the Forth Rail Bridge to raise money for causes close to their hearts.
On Sunday, October 4, Dunoon father and son Greg and Luca Girard will take on a 165ft descent from the bridge in aid of Dunoon Burgh Hall, while 86-year-old Alison Ireland and her daughter Karen Cormack will tackle a 160ft abseil to raise funds for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Although the two challenges share the same spectacular setting, the reasons behind them are very different.
Local businessman Greg Girard and his 16-year-old son Luca, a pupil at Dunoon Grammar School, will be hoping to raise money for Dunoon Burgh Hall as the venue launches its Autumn/Winter 2026 fundraising campaign.
The campaign has a target of £10,000 to help support the historic community venue through the quieter autumn and winter months.
Greg recently became chair of the board of trustees of Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust and hopes the challenge will encourage people across Dunoon and beyond to get behind the Hall.
Greg said: “It’s a pretty scary challenge, but it’s all for a place that means a huge amount to the wider Dunoon community and to us.”
The father and son are asking people to donate whatever they can afford, with Greg stressing that even small contributions can make a difference.
He added: “If you can spare £1, £5, £10, £20 or more, every single donation will help support Dunoon Burgh Hall.
“£1 might not sound like much, but lots of £1s can make a very big difference.”
The fundraising campaign for the centre is intended to provide support through the quieter months while longer-term plans continue.
Donations to Greg and Luca’s fundraiser can be made via the Dunoon Burgh Hall Autumn/Winter 2026 Crowdfunder.
At the other end of the age spectrum, 86-year-old Alison Ireland from Kirn will be taking on the Forth Bridge challenge alongside her daughter Karen Cormack.
Alison, who will be one of the oldest participants taking part, is a former community midwife and remains active in the Cowal community, including playing the organ at local churches.
Karen is a former principal teacher of PE at Rothesay Academy who later moved north to Dingwall, where she recently retired as a headteacher.
The pair have chosen to raise money for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) — a charity which has a particularly personal significance for Alison.
Alison and her husband Stan lost their son Ian in 1980, when he was just 15.
Ian had been diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 11. Following surgery, he enjoyed four good years before the tumour returned and he lost his life.
At the time, services provided by CHAS did not exist for the Ireland family.
Alison said the experience has stayed with her and helped shape her support for the charity ever since.
Reflecting on what children’s hospice care could have meant for Ian and the family, she said: “It would have been amazing.
“They take care of the whole family, they can all go and stay and have a lovely, fun time and forget about the illness.”
Alison has supported CHAS for many years and estimates that she has been involved with the charity for around a decade, although she believes it may be longer.
When she discovered that CHAS was organising the Forth Bridge abseil, she decided it was an opportunity she could not resist.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I must have a go at this’”, she said.
Her daughter Karen then agreed to join her.
Alison joked that she would probably be ‘one of the oldest there’, but the 86-year-old is clearly undaunted by the prospect of making the 160ft descent.
For Alison, however, the challenge is ultimately about much more than conquering a fear or taking on an unusual experience.
Her participation is a way of remembering Ian while helping support families who, decades later, have access to a form of specialist care that was not available to her own family.
She added: “It’s not only your child itself; your other children get involved as well.”
Both mother and daughter are now hoping that their fundraising will help CHAS continue providing that support to families across Scotland.
Donations to Alison and Karen’s CHAS fundraiser can be made through their JustGiving page, with over £1,500 already raised.
With both fundraising campaigns taking place ahead of the abseils, supporters can help turn the nerves of Sunday’s challenge into something positive for their respective causes by visiting the QR codes to donate.
QR 1: https://www.justgiving.com/page/karen-cormack-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA
QR 2: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/autumn-winter-2026
