‘A prayer answered’ – Highland Cross charities are ready to pick up new vehicles
Four Highland charities will each be driving away a brand new vehicle on Thursday thanks to the efforts of fundraisers in a coast-to-coast duathlon.
The Highland Cross is not like any other event – around 750 participants race from the west coast at Kintail to the east at Beauly, covering nearly 50 miles on foot and by bike.
But the organisation that goes on year-round behind the scenes is focused on the community that makes up this midsummer day of action. It’s a day when the benefitting charities themselves – which are chosen by an independent selection panel – also get involved, manning checkpoints and water stations along the route that goes through the heart of Glen Affric.
All the money raised goes to charities that work in the communities around the Highlands. And when you consider that more than £6 million has been raised since the event began in 1983, that’s a lot of benefit to the people of the north.
Among the charities that will receive a new minibus at a handover event on Thursday evening is Cantraybridge College, based at Croy.
It works with young people with additional support needs, and operations manager Miriam Hendry said they were delighted with the donation of the new minibus, which will be used to transport students to and from college; on outings for educational, health, social and leisure purposes; and for holidays.
“A gift of a minibus is a prayer answered, bringing immediate and sustained benefits to a range of disadvantaged people across Highland,” Miriam said.
“It will also allow us to welcome more nursery and school groups to our 19-acre campus to enjoy our outdoor educational facilities, and to invite more older people’s groups for leisure visits.”
Miriam added: “We really enjoy being part of the event, and this year as Cantraybridge is one of the beneficiaries, we also provided 18 staff to help out with the bag collection in Beauly and also directing the cyclists as they were coming to the end of the race.
“Everyone commented what a great day it was and has expressed a wish to help out another year.”
Highland Disability Sport (HDS) is another of the charities that will pick up a minibus to help improve their services.
Co-ordinator Alison Thompson said the vehicle would be “invaluable” in helping their members access events which they have missed out on in recent years.
She explained: “Many national disability events are held in the central belt and for those people with wheelchairs or who need a little extra help, the cost of travelling to these events was just not feasible. The use of the bus reduces any stress and anxiety about travelling and leaves participants and volunteers looking forward to playing or coaching their sport.”
HDS had two volunteer teams at the Cross, one at the bike change over at Glen Affric and one at the finish line in Beauly. Alison said both groups had a great time, full of fun, laughs and inspiration for what the participants went through on the day.
“We cannot thank the Highland Cross enough for choosing us as a main beneficiary, the minibus is going to be a great addition to what we can offer people in the future,” she added.
Highland Blindcraft and L’Arche Highland are also set to receive new vehicles from the Highland Cross this week.
Highland Blindcraft is an ethically run commercial charity, employing and supporting local people across Inverness and the Highlands.
Its interim CEO Deirdre Aitken said: “The donation of a van from the Highland Cross is a huge boost to our business delivery. As a business providing supported employment to 19 people living with sight loss and various disabilities, we are keen to continue delivering high quality products all over the country.”
Based in Inverness, L’Arche Highland will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. It brings together people with and without learning disabilities to form a community where people live, work and share life alongside each other as peers and equals.
L’Arche Highland is a member of the worldwide Federation of L’Arche, which runs over 150 communities across 37 countries. The charity has a long-standing connection with the Highland Cross and the event has supported L’Arche on a several occasions in the past.
This year, a team of around 20 volunteers – members and friends of the L’Arche Highland Community, including those with and without a learning disability – acted as marshals at various points along the course.
L’Arche Highland community leader Chris Gehrke said: “In L’Arche, we look for opportunities to do things together. But few of us are drivers, and many of the people we support don’t have their own vehicle.
“This new minibus will not only enable us to get people to essential appointments, but enrich the lives of more people we support by opening up new opportunities for us to go out and do things together as a community.”
The charity handover event takes place in Inverness on Thursday evening, when invited guests from local charities, supporters of the event and organisers get together to mark the achievements and reveal this year’s fundraising total.
