When a soldier tackled gruelling challenges for disabled children

We have dived into the extensive archives here at the Gazette and had a look at Wednesday, April 2, to find and share some of the content that we covered then.

Do you recognise or remember these stories?

1. Renfrew woman terrified of heights before trek

Her fear of heights once meant she could never even dream of stepping on a rollercoaster.

But Renfrew woman Terri Doyle finally managed to conquer her phobia — after she climbed one of the world’s biggest and best-known landmarks.

Intrepid Terri, 21, tackled USA’s Grand Canyon to raise £161,000 for charity Help a Capital Child.

As well as trekking through the blistering heat of the Havasupai Reservation and spending nights sleeping under the stars, she took part in a terrifying 3,100ft descent into the canyon.

The kind-hearted school aftercare worker — who also juggles working shifts between a shop and pub — was inspired to support the children’s charity after hearing about a close family friend’s battle with cancer.

2. Kids’ ideas for flying machines take off

Children at Kirklandneuk Primary were transported back to the future when they took part in a fun school learning project.

P1 pupils were flying high when they were given the task of inventing models of futuristic cars devised purely from the imagination.

The transport and journeys project allowed the youngsters to share information about modes of transport.

But when given the task to design their own vehicles for the future, they took it to the next level by building alternatively-powered flying machines.

3. Aspiring movie makers shoot their own movie 

Participants in the council-run Recruit programme for jobseekers turned movie-makers to shoot their own superhero-themed safety films.

The Recruit, loosely based on the television hit The Apprentice, saw 16 to 24-year-olds take part in a series of business and practical challenges to win a job offer at the end of the competition.

Their challenge involved 38 recruits splitting into five teams and being asked to pitch their ideas for safety films.

Team Tenacious were chosen as the winners and asked to make their very own film.

The winning idea sees Captain Courageous saving a cat from a tree and an old lady from two muggers but then is caught in a blaze at home caused by leaving his phone charger plugged in – showing even heroes aren’t safe from fire.

4. Soldier tackles gruelling challenges to raise cash

A selfless soldier was dubbed a ‘local hero’ after vowing to complete a marathon to help a long-suffering toddler.

Paisley man Stephen Connor, 37, took on the gruelling 26.2-mile challenge of the London Marathon and the 53-mile Highland Fling next month to raise money for Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.

The cause is a children’s charity which helped three-year-old Ellie Goodwin, from Linthouse, sleep in safety.

The only way little Ellie can get a good night’s sleep is with a £10,000 specialist bed to keep her safe. Previously, she had spent months sleeping in a car seat.

5. Competition talent was music to judges’ ears

School pupils hit all the right notes in their musical competition.

Park Mains High held its successful Young Musician of the Year event earlier this month. And talented youngsters had scooped an array of awards.

The junior finalists were accordionist Nicola Hart, singers Flora Brown, Chloe Moore and Cameron Kehoe, drummer Saul McVeigh and pianist Amy Overend.

Chloe secured the top spot with her rendition of Over the Rainbow while Cameon came second singing Always On My Mind.

6. Pupils draw applause for art contest success

MSP Stewart Maxwell visited pupils in Linwood to present prizes to winning pupils who took part in a European-wide school drawing competition.

The school were nominated by the MSP to represent Scotland in an art contest involving primary schools from across Europe including Italy, Poland, Ireland and Belgium.

The three lucky winners of the competition were P6 pupils Roslyn Gorman (first place), Melanie Mahoney (second place) and Sophie Motherwell (third place).

Stewart Maxwell MSP joined local councillor Audrey Doig to present each of the winners with a luxury coloured pencil set and printed postcards of their winning designs.

P6 pupil Ross Coyle and deputy head teacher Mrs Collins also accepted a new digital camera on behalf of the school for taking part in the competition.