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Video: Rally For Bally tennis fundraiser in Hyndland will net thousands for charities

Three good causes set to benefit from fourth annual event.

Tickets have gone on sale for an annual charity tennis event in the West End.

Rally For Bally will take place on Saturday June 3 at Western Health and Racquets Club on Hyndland Road, from 1pm to 5pm.

 Joker: Former footballer Ally McCoist provided the laughs at last year's event.
Joker: Former footballer Ally McCoist provided the laughs at last year's event.

Now in its fourth year, the fundraiser was started in memory of Scottish tennis star Elena Baltacha who passed away from liver cancer at the age of 30 - three years to the day (May 4, 2014).

Last year’s event was attended by over 300 people from all over the UK and raised over £20,000.

Organisers are promising another packed programme of famous faces, sporting action, live music and food and drink.

This year three Scottish charities will share funds raised on the day: The PEEK Project, Playlist For Life and Cancer Support Scotland.

 Celeb: Actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli is among a host of famous faces lined up for the day.
Celeb: Actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli is among a host of famous faces lined up for the day.

Julie Gordon, from Western Health and Racquets Club, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the fourth Rally for Bally event at Western this year raising money for three fantastic charities.

"This year's event is shaping up to be the best yet with more surprise guests and entertainment planned."

Julie said one of the headline stars of this year's event would be Scottish singer-songwriter Sharon Martin whose work has been used to inspire women's sport.

"We can reveal at this time that Sharon Martin will be performing live this year at our event,” Julie said.

So far, confirmed players this year are: actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli, journalist and charity founder Sally Magnusson, BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston, journalist Paul English, sports presenter Alison Walker, actors Ryan Fletcher and Sally Howitt (River City) and journalist and presenter Kaye Adams.

Julie added: "We are pleased to say that ex-footballers Ian McCall and Alan Rough are due to play again plus a few other well-known faces that we hope to confirm shortly."

Julie Gordon, Western Health and Racquets Club:

“We are delighted to be hosting the fourth Rally for Bally event at Western this year raising money for three fantastic charities.

"This year's event is shaping up to be the best yet with more surprise guests and entertainment planned."

Melodie Crumlin is CEO at PEEK Project which works in 30 of the most disadvantaged communities across Glasgow to encourage play and sport.

She said: “PEEK are delighted to have been chosen as one of this year's fundraising recipients.

"We believe that every youngster has the right to play and creativity regardless of their circumstances.

"Monies raised at Rally For Bally 2017 will allow us to reach more youngsters who will be provided with Pop Up Active Play Tennis sessions through our outreach Play Ranger approach."

Playlist for Life said it was delighted to be part of the event again.

The charity, founded by Sally Magnusson, said: "Being able to respond to music is the one thing dementia cannot destroy.

 Inspiration: The event was set up in memory of young Scottish tennis star Elena Baltacha who died three years ago aged only 30.
Inspiration: The event was set up in memory of young Scottish tennis star Elena Baltacha who died three years ago aged only 30.

"Playlist for Life encourages families and caregivers to create a playlist of personally meaningful music on an iPod for people with dementia."

Gwen Mosson, at Cancer Support Scotland, said: "Cancer Support Scotland offers a range of free complementary therapies and one to one counselling to cancer patients and their families.

"Every day they see the benefit to people living with cancer after they have used the service.

"Unfortunately the charity receives no funding and relies solely on the generosity and kindness of the public.

https://youtu.be/EkxLNbEvtmE

Watch: Highlights from last year's event.

"The donation the charity will receive from the Rally For Bally event will help them continue to offer this much-needed free service."

This year's major sponsor for the event is Vanilla Square - the second year running they have supported the charity day.

* For more information visit the event's Facebook page. To purchase tickets direct click here.

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