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Community fundraiser conquers first Munro to raise £3400 for new Haven Centre in Inverness


By Val Sweeney

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The walkers supporting the Haven Centre fundraising effort at the top of Ben Wyvis. They raised £3400 for the cause.
The walkers supporting the Haven Centre fundraising effort at the top of Ben Wyvis. They raised £3400 for the cause.

A COMMUNITY fundraiser has conquered her first Munro to help raise £3400 for an ambitious appeal to develop Scotland's first integrated centre in Inverness for children and young adults with multiple and complex needs.

Rona Matheson, who took up her post with the Haven Appeal earlier this year, was among nine walkers who tackled Ben Wyvis in Ross-shire.

Their ages ranged from 13 to 74 years and most had never climbed a Munro before. The appeal aims to raise £4 million to develop the purpose-built Haven Centre at a site in Smithton.

"I wanted to challenge myself to climb my first ever Munro and to raise funds for the Haven Appeal at the same time," said Mrs Matheson of Wards Drive, Muir of Ord. "I appealed for any willing walkers to join me.

"My mum, Baba Mackenzie who lives in Lochcarron, is a keen walker but not an experienced hill climber and she said that she was keen to join me because she knows how the Haven Centre will help her own granddaughter, Sarah Matheson, who has a learning disability. I am so thankful to my mum who enthused two close friends to join her for the climb."

She said: "We were in no hurry to leave the summit. I do not think it will be my last Munro. Thank you so much to all the walkers and to all who contributed to our sponsorship total."

Her own family's experience is just one of many examples highlighting the crucial need for the Haven Centre across the Highlands. After Sarah was no longer able to attend Drummond School because of her difficulties, Mrs Matheson gave up her job at Blythswood.

"Suddenly, I became very aware of how lost I was without school," she said.

"Sarah has no provision. She was very cut off which was catastrophic without any social interaction and that goes on up to this day.

"I have become a carer again and I have become very aware of how isolating it can be for a young person with special needs."

She stressed her family's situation was not unique and there was a huge need for the proposed specialist centre.

The aim is to build the Haven Centre on a site previously occupied by the Culloden Court Nursing Home, which was destroyed by a fire in October 2010.

It will feature respite housing, a community café, specialist play centres, office and meeting spaces and a community garden.


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