A truckload of cash for Highland charities
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THE Highland Cross has been running for nearly a third of a century and it is still producing firsts, writes John Davidson.
At the event’s charity handover evening last month, it was the first time a forklift truck was gifted to a Highland charity. The beneficiary was Blythswood Care, which has already been operating the new vehicle in its north-east distribution centre, from where it operates its Highland foodbanks.
It’s always an inspiration hearing where the money raised by competitors who have completed the 50-mile coast-to-coast duathlon goes, but this time that was working in reverse.
James Campbell, Blythswood’s chief executive, announced that he was so inspired by the efforts of the participants that he was going to join them in the 2015 event.
James joked that he was glad Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland was one of the other beneficiaries!
The event organisers announced another first on the night – a record fundraising year for the Cross, with £229,788 banked. That takes the cumulative total over the event’s 32 years to £3.8 million.
John Fraser, treasurer to the Highland Cross, said: "Once again the competitors have worked hard to raise this excellent total. This is the fourth year in a row that the sum raised has exceeded £225,000. "Since the start of the Highland Cross in 1983, the charity’s philosophy has been to ensure every penny of sponsorship funds goes to Highland charities.
"We believe that sponsors, helpers, competitors and everyone associated with the event appreciate this when fundraising for the Highland Cross."
This year’s main charities benefiting from the funds are:
Beauly and District Care Project – a specially converted vehicle
Leonard Cheshire Disability Inverness – £40,000 to create special sensory spaces in its centre in Inverness
Shopmobility Highland – a specially adapted vehicle
Blythswood Care – a forklift truck for its foodbank operation in Invergordon
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland – a vehicle to support its Highland-wide outreach and fundraising work
Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers – a minibus to support their work and the work of Skye YMCA
Work is already under way to select the charities that will benefit from next year’s event, which takes place on June 20. The application list for entries is already closed.
For more information on the event and the charity work it supports, see highlandcross.co.uk
