Greg Monks family and friends to release balloons ahead of funeral this week

Daily Record

3 hours ago

The 38-year-old tragically died after going missing hours into a stag do in the party resort of Albufeira in the Algarve.
Greg Monks loved ones are set to release balloons in his memory ahead of his funeral this week after his body was flown home from Portugal.
The 38-year-old tragically died after going missing hours into a stag do in the party resort of Albufeira in the Algarve. A painstaking week long search was carried out for Greg, from Cambuslang, near Glasgow who vanished on May 28.
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Tragically Greg's body was discovered at the bottom of the a ravine by Portuguese search cops on the morning of Wednesday, June 4 leaving family heartbroken. Police concluded that Greg fell to his death after becoming lost whilst trying to get back to his hotel.
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Family including Greg's mum, cousin and girlfriend Nicole had to travel home from Portugal without him after waiting for repatriation to take place. A fundraiser set up to initially helped with the search to find him and then to help with bringing him home has raised more than £34,000.
Last week how family and friends were set to come together in honour of Greg on Monday, June 23. A special balloon release is planned just days before Greg's emotional send off.
The release will take place at the field at Fullarton Park Glasgow on Monday evening. The family say it will provide the community a chance to come together to remember Greg.
Attendees will meet at 7pm and release balloons around 15 minutes later. Those attending are encouraged to bring blue balloon, with a personal message to Greg.
The release comes as full details for Greg's funeral have been released.
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A private service for family and friends of Greg will take place at Daldowie Crematorium, on Wednesday, June 25 at 4pm.
Donations will be taken at the service in lieu of flowers to charity Cash for Kids.
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Earlier this month Greg's sister Jillian Monks told the Record how the family "had closure" following his tragic death.
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She said: 'It has been the toughest time of our lives. We still can't believe what has happened.
'But we're glad we now have some sense of closure. I don't know if any of us could have coped with even another day searching for my brother.
'We couldn't eat, we couldn't sleep. It was absolute torture.
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'To know Greg has been found is a slight relief. We can now bring him home and give him the send off he deserves.'
Greg became separated from pals on the Albufeira strip just hours after arriving for a five-day stag trip. He was set to be a groomsmen for his best mate before tragedy struck.
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The last sighting of Greg was captured in the Cerro de Aguia area, a quieter residential spot around three miles away from the main strip where Greg and his pals partied.
Jillian previously urged groups to "stick together" on trips to popular party resorts such as Albufeira.
She said: "I think it just shows in places like Albufeira everyone needs to stick together and look after each other.
"His pals are absolutely devastated at what happened."
She added: "Before everyone left the hotel that night Greg made sure they all had a business card and a map from the hotel to help them find their way home."