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£20,000 raised by celebrity-backed Rally For Bally charity tennis fundraiser

Stars shine as crowds soak up the sun at Rally For Bally fundraiser in Hyndland

A whopping £20,000 has been raised for good causes by the Rally For Bally charity fundraiser at the weekend.

That is £5,000 more than the star-studded event generated last year.

Organiser Julie Gordon said the total was down to "a fabulous team effort" on everyone's part.

https://youtu.be/fPKbWJyOagg

Watch: Celebrities were out in force at the charity gala, with music and food thrown in.

Football legend Ally McCoist was the surprise star turn as celebrities shone with the sun at the tennis fundraiser in the West End.

The former Scotland and Rangers striker and manager took to the court with a host of well-known names from television and the media.

Ballboys: Football legends Ally McCoist (left) and Alan Rough (second right) were among the celebrities who graced the court.

On the attack: Former footballers Ally McCoist and Ian McCall show their skills with the racquet.

McCoist joked and carried on with his co-stars as a crowd of two hundred paying spectators and guests enjoyed a carnival of tennis, live music, food and beverages.

Sunshine bathed on the Western Health & Racquets Club on Hyndland Road which hosted the event for the third year.

Poised: Ally McCoist takes instructions as team Purple look on.

Three charities will benefit from the event: The Elena Baltacha Foundation; Playlist for Life; and Cancer Support Scotland.

Child's play: A young spectator shows the celebrities how it's done.

The star auction prize of Wimbledon VIP Men's final tickets were sold for a whopping £5,300. Other glittering prizes made many hundreds of pounds.

Paul Regan with the Elena Baltacha Foundation thanked the organisers and crowd at the close of the event for their fundraising.

Tribute: Paul Regan with the Elena Baltacha Foundation says money raised will be spent in Scotland.

He said the charity day was a fitting tribute to the late British women's number one who died two years ago from liver cancer.

"The money raised will be spent in Scotland to help young people play tennis," he told the crowd.

Order: Presenter Kaye Adams takes the umpire's seat to bring sanity to proceedings.

He said property management company Speirs Gumley had committed to match the funds raised for the foundation pound for pound.

Sally Magnusson, who found the dementia charity Playlist for Life, said the money would help make a difference to individuals.

Playlist: Presenter Sally Magnusson thanks the crowd on behalf of her charity Playlist for Life.

Charity: Cancer Support Scotland are one of the organisations benefiting from the day. Kaye Adams with charity helpers.

Gwen Mosson, fundraiser with Cancer Support Scotland, said the charity day was a wonderful occasion and a big boost for the charity's work at the Calman Cancer Support Centre in the grounds of Gartnaval Hospital in the West End.

Stars including Kaye Adams, Sanjeev Kohli, Judith Ralston, BBC Scotland's Alison Walker and Sally Magnusson entertained the crowds with their tennis prowess during a series of fun games.

Smashing: Weather girl Judith Ralston looks skyward as she returns during the celebrity charity match.

Organiser Julie Gordon said: "We have been blessed with great weather. This is a perfect day and all the hard work is paying off."

Star line-up: The teams join together for the after-match photocall.

Earlier, Scots singer and actress Michelle McManus opened the festivities at the fundraising event.

She sang a host of songs to warm up the crowd before the tennis events.

On song: Michelle McManus gave a rousing opening to the festivities.

Sunshine: Spectators enjoyed a day of song, food and tennis under glorious summer skies.

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