MORE than £7000 has been raised so far by Diageo employees in Clackmannanshire to help a former colleague with progressive multiple sclerosis.

As the Advertiser reported at the end of March, mother-of-one Lauren Dickie, 34, is aiming to undergo experimental treatment in Mexico in the hope that it will allow her to spend more quality time with her five-year-old daughter Charlotte.

Lauren, who lives in Renfrewshire, used to work at the drinks company's Menstrie technical centre where her husband Jonathan is still employed; and a group of her former colleagues decided to help with raising the £56,000 she needs for treatment.

They organised a series of events, with the aim of raising at least 10 per cent of the money needed, but went above and beyond and still have a fundraiser to look forward to.

On her Go Fund Me page, Lauren recently revealed that a date has already been set for her hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), but she is still short of reaching the final target.

The treatment uses low-dose chemotherapy to temp the patient's immune system down. Then, doctors use HSCT therapy, involving an infusion of the patient's own stem cells, to reboot their immune system.

Research suggests that two years post-transplant, half of the patients showed a marked improvement in disability.

Her ex-workmates, lead by manager Rhona Ferrans, put together collectible bottles of whisky for their first fundraiser, auctioning them through scotchwhiskyauctions.com, raising an outstanding £6270. The auctioneers very kindly waived their normal 10 per cent hammer fee, maximising the contribution to Lauren's fund.

Highlights of the auction included a bottle of Johnnie Walker 2012 Director's Blend, netting £1500, and a bottle of Ardbeg Lord of the Isles Limited Edition, which was sold for £900.

Local Psychic Denise also donated her talents and time for a fundraising evening at the Station Bar in Alloa. She took the crowd of 60 on a mythical journey with a full floor show, followed by one-to-one tarot, rune and crystal ball readings as well as mediumship messages.

The bar provided the function suite for free and put on the table a delicious buffet at just cost price. Guests also enjoyed a game of psychic bingo and a raffle, which raised a further £820. Altogether, the two events collected £7090 for Lauren, smashing the team's original target of £5600.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser:

Rhona said: “We’ve raised a fabulous amount so far, but we need to raise so much more.

“It’s great that Lauren is going ahead with the treatment. Our job is to help make sure that the financial outlay for this treatment doesn’t add to the burden of her illness or recovery.

“Her former colleagues are only too happy to help in whatever way we can.”

Lauren's treatment begins on May 23. She was diagnosed with MS at the age of 21 and as Rhona previously explained: “There are days when she can't see, there are days when she can't walk. There's no cure for what she has.

“Her daughter is five - she wants to have the energy to have a good quality of life with her.”

Rhona and the team are currently organising a third event to help the woman. They'll be hosting a Frog Race Night in Saturday June 18 at the Bowling Club in Bridge of Allan. The evening is promised to be a fun occasion with racing, raffles and dancing.

Tickets cost £10 and include light refreshments, to book and for more information, call Rhona on 07803 855 597.

In her latest update, Lauren wrote: “This [the start of the treatment] is a lot earlier than expected and I have not got anywhere near my fundraising target of £56,000.

“I can feel the disease slowly getting worse on a weekly basis so I feel I have no choice than to accept the date and get myself there by any means necessary and continue to fundraise to cover the large shortfall.

“I'm really excited, if a little apprehensive to be going, but I don't think it has fully sunk in yet as I have a very busy few weeks coming up to get everything in place before I go in terms of upcoming fundraising events, further out fundraisers and also my medical documents, scans, and family matters to ensure Joe and Charlotte are taken care of, I'm sure they will be better looked after by family members than [they are] on a normal basis, before I leave.”

The HSCT treatment is only in the testing phases in the UK and only a handful of patients will undergo the pilot. Her chances of being selected are very slim and so she feels that now is the time to commit to the radical treatment.