A GARELOCHHEAD brother and sister have helped raise more than £1,000 for the NHS by getting creative during lockdown.
Jack and Zarah Slee, aged eight and 11, have been crafting wooden hearts and painting them in the colours of the rainbow after coming up with the idea to help pass the time.
The initial designs turned out so well that proud parents Colin and Claire decided to share the bright creations on social media before they were inundated with requests from people keen to buy their own rainbow heart.
The youngsters, who both attend Garelochhead Primary School, were then inspired to start an online fund-raiser in aid of key health service workers.
Dad Colin told the Advertiser: "We decided to set up a Just Giving page for a donation in exchange of one of their rainbow hearts with all donations received going to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
"We set a target of £150 and within a few hours we were well over our target with orders and donations coming from as far as England and even Canada.
"The kids chose the NHS because of the current situation with Covid-19 and in the hope of our donations helping everyone affected out."
Zarah, who is also a member of the local Route 81 project, and Jack, a member of Helensburgh Boys' Brigade, have made 60 wooden hearts so far with the fund-raising total standing at £1,313 as this article was published.
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The shapes are drawn out onto plywood before dad Colin cuts them into seven parts and the children paint them and glue them together.
Colin added: "We have a few still to go and we don't know how many the final total will be as there's folk asking every day.
"We've also started making keyring versions of them with 50 on order so far.
"It's for a great cause and we want to say a massive thank you, from all of us, for all the kind donations."
Go to justgiving.com/fundraising/colin-slee to donate or email Colin Slee on sleemania@aol.com for information on how to purchase a wooden rainbow heart.
READ MORE: Check out all the latest news headlines from around Helensburgh and Lomond here
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