Our parties have always been about celebrating that community, and this year, there is one person in particular we want to celebrate.
Our 5th Birthday Party will be dedicated to the memory of our much-loved GCF regular, Lewis Black, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
Anyone who knew Lewis from GCF will know exactly where you would usually find him — on the dancefloor, with a smile on his face.
Lewis was one of those familiar faces that became part of the night. He supported GCF, loved the music, loved a dance and brought a brilliant energy with him every time he came along.
So when it came to planning our 5th birthday, it felt right to make Lewis part of it.
At the request of Lewis’s family, £5 from every ticket sold will be donated to Turning Point Scotland, where Lewis worked and where he had found something he was genuinely passionate about.
Lewis worked at the Glasgow Drug and Alcohol Crisis Service and absolutely loved what he did there. His mum Libby told us that he had really found his calling in the role, which made Turning Point feel like the obvious place for the donation to go.
Turning Point supports people through some of the toughest moments in their lives, helping people move towards recovery while also focusing on safety, connection and support.
They told us:
“Turning Point are committed to helping individuals begin their journey to recovery whilst utilising harm reduction approaches, placing safety at the forefront of care delivery. We are passionate in encouraging citizens who use the service to improve and maintain relationships with family, friends and communities to build on their sense of belonging in society.”
And when we told them what we were planning for Lewis, they came back with this:
“How wonderful Good Clean Fun are honouring Lewis in this way, it’s so lovely that everyone continues to think of us. We will put good use of any donations we receive for the people we support and hopefully get a few of the team along on the night. Thank you.”
Lewis’s mum, Libby, also sent us a message which says it better than we ever could:
“I miss him so much every day.
Lewis would be absolutely honoured that you would be dedicating your 5th birthday party of Good Clean Fun in his memory as I know how much he really enjoyed them.
Lewis worked for Turning Point Scotland in Glasgow Drug and Alcohol Crisis Service Centre which he absolutely loved. They are having a memorial for him and naming one of their rooms in the centre after him.
So I think it would be so fitting if the donation went to them, he truly found his calling there.
I can’t thank you enough for doing this, I know Lewis will be there in spirit dancing away.
Thank you”
FIVE YEARS OF GOOD CLEAN FUN
Five years of GCF is a pretty big deal for us.
Good Clean Fun started with one simple idea — that you can still have a proper night out, dance until your feet hurt, meet people, laugh, enjoy the music and have an amazing time without drink or drugs being part of it.
Since then, it has grown into a proper community.
We’ve watched people come along for the first time not knowing anyone and leave with new pals. We’ve seen the same faces come back again and again. We’ve seen friendships form, confidence grow and people realise that sober nightlife doesn’t have to mean standing around drinking a Diet Coke and going home at 10pm.
And that is what our 5th birthday is about.
It is a celebration of everything GCF has become, everyone who has supported it over the years and all the people who have filled that dancefloor.
This year, it is also about Lewis.
We want it to be a proper celebration. A packed dancefloor, brilliant music, loads of familiar faces and exactly the kind of night Lewis would have loved.
And while we’re doing that, we’ll also be raising money for a place that meant a huge amount to him.
So come and celebrate five years of Good Clean Fun with us.
Come for the music, come for the people, come for the dancefloor.
And raise a few quid for Lewis while we’re at it.
Here’s to five years of GCF — and to Lewis.