Global Energy boss backs children's hospital charity in the Highlands
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A children's hospital charity is set to harness the energy of one of Scotland’s most successful businessmen.
Roy MacGregor, chairman of the Global Energy Group and Ross County Football Club, has become a patron of The Archie Foundation in the Highlands.
The charity provides extras for local sick children and those in long-term medical treatment at Raigmore Hospital and others in Grampian and Tayside, including advanced training and equipment, specialist staff, child-friendly environments and extensive support to families.
It is currently finding that some struggling parents of young patients are having to choose between food and fuel to visit hospital.
Mr MacGregor is to offer his support and expertise as a Highland ambassador for the charity.
Mary Nimmo, chairwoman of Archie Highland, said: "We’re in advanced dialogue with NHS Highland about future projects around the state-of-the-art children’s unit at Raigmore Hospital, which we successfully funded.
"But we’re currently extremely busy supporting parents of sick children who come to Raigmore from considerable distances to visit their child. Lack of cash means they have to choose between paying for food or fuel – and we’re stepping in because that’s a choice we’re anxious they shouldn’t make.
"We’re also helping families by providing specialist medical equipment which their child can take home with them, and which the parents might not otherwise have been able to afford.
"These are extremely challenging times for people whose children are ill, which is why we’re delighted that Roy MacGregor has accepted my invitation to become a patron. He’s such a well-known and respected Highland business figure and we hope he can open doors for us in our fundraising efforts."
Mr MacGregor, who sold his MacGregor Energy Services Group in 1997 then successfully launched Global Energy Group, said: "I want to try to be a support mechanism for Archie Highland as I realise that fundraising will be a challenge going forward for a body which is doing something hugely worthwhile. My intention is to use my influence in the region to support Archie Highland.
"In some ways, Covid has made us all better human beings in reviving the old ‘help your neighbour’ spirit. In a pandemic, we all need to help those locally who need help. Supporting sick children and their families is central to that."
Mr MacGregor is an ex-World Finance entrepreneur of the year, member of the Entrepreneurial Exchange hall of fame, and was named director of the year by The Institute of Directors Scotland.
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