Highland women raise more than £20,000 for Alzheimer Scotland at ladies' lunch
DOZENS of Highland women donned posh outfits and tucked into gourmet food to help raise £20,062 in support of people affected by dementia.
The first ladies’ lunch for Alzheimer Scotland in the Highlands was held at Achnagairn Estate near Kirkhill and attended by 125 guests. The sponsors were Ness Castle Lodges, Tulloch Homes, the Eastgate Shopping Centre and William Gray Construction.
Elma MacKay, the charity’s community fundraiser for Highland, Moray and Aberdeenshire, described the amount raised as "amazing".
"We thought we might raise about £15,000 so we are absolutely thrilled to bits," she said. "Without the sponsors, we would not have raised as much."
The menu included smoked salmon terrine, chicken donated by Inverness butcher Duncan Fraser and Achnagairn cranachan.
The guest speaker was Liz Allan, a carer from the Inverness area, who gave a personal insight into the impact of dementia on families.
The event also included a raffle and silent auction. Prizes included a VIP shopping experience, a three-night break for four in Glendaruel, Argyll, and a summer in the city package featuring tickets for UB40, Olly Murrs and the Belladrum Festival.
The money will be used to develop Alzheimer Scotland’s resource centre in Inverness which provides support, advice and information for those affected by dementia.
There are currently 4500 people in the Highlands diagnosed with the condition but Mrs MacKay said the number could be double.
