Published: Saturday, 10th May, 2008 18:00
Charity hero: 'I nearly died'
By Eric Baxter
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HAPPY TOGETHR: Spud and Anne with his MBE.
Pic by: Kris Cairns
ONE of Scotland’s top charity fundraisers is celebrating 11 years of being alcohol-free this week
Hugh ‘Spud’ Burns’, of Greenock, received the last rites twice within a few hours in 1997 — but binned the booze and survived to be presented with the MBE by the Queen in 2005 for his work with the Gibshill Sunshine Club.
Spud, who has cerebal palsy, said: “I started drinking day and night in 1991 because of depression after my mother died and it lasted for six years.
“I couldn’t wait to get a drink when I got up in the morning and I was drunk going to sleep at night. I was drinking cider, lager, whisky — anything at all.
“I was miserable all the time and I took a drink to try to make me feel a bit better, but all it did was make me even more miserable.
“I didn’t stop until doctors warned me I would die. My skin actually turned green because I was in such a state.
“My family was making funeral arrangements for me and I got the last rites twice. It gave me a real fright.”
Spud, 48, later met his wife Anne, 52, who also had drink problems.
Anne said: “Spud gave up without having to take any medication, but I was in hospital and I needed tablets. I’ve been off the drink for three years.
“I’d love to have a drink on a Saturday night, but I know if I did it would start me drinking all the time and that’s the last thing I want.
“Being off drink has changed our lives. It’s just fantastic to be able to get up in the morning and go out and do what you want without thinking about wanting a drink all the time.”
Spud agreed, saying: “It’s a better life.”
He reckons he has raised about £4 million for various charities over the past 40 years, and is currently collecting for the Sunshine Club’s 22 members to go to Blackpool next month.
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Man, 23, fighting for life
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