PICTURES: Inverness scooter rally raises thousands for Highland Hospice
A grand total of £3000 was raised at a gathering of scooter enthusiasts who enjoyed a weekend of fun and fundraising near Inverness.
The A9 Highlands Scooter Club organised The Highland Shindig Scooter Rally to take place at the Bogbain Farm venue last Friday and Saturday to raise funds for Highland Hospice.
With live music, a ceilidh, raffles and games, enthusiasts flocked from all over the country to be a part of it.
Organiser Sid Masson said there hadn’t been a scooter event in the Highlands for many years, spurring him on to create his own with the thought that it would also be good to help a local charity at the same time.
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Sid said: “We were really pleased with the turnout - we had 230 people come up for the event and 70 scooters.
“We knew we would get people from the likes of Aberdeen and Dundee, but we also had others from the central belt and from further south - we had two guys from Ely and people from Morecambe.
“There was a big scooter rally in England at the weekend as well, so it was especially great that they chose to come here instead.”
He thanked a range of sponsors including Wyvis Roofing, GM Leitch, Armchair Supports upholsterers, KDM Motorcycle Training, Safe Access Highland and Macleod Roofing as well as all the bands and singers who kept the crowd entertained over both Friday and Saturday.
And while nothing is definite yet, thoughts are already turning towards a repeat.
“All people have been saying since is ‘do it again. do it again’,” Sid said.
“We are due to have a meeting and a discussion about that so we’ll have to wait and see, but it’s good to know that everybody had such a good time and that we have been able to help such a good local cause.”
Terry Vine, one of those who attended, took to Facebook afterwards.
“Thank you so much for your warm welcome,” he said. “Everyone we met were great company.
“The entertainment was top notch and I made some new friends, danced until I had to take a breather, had a sip of whisky from the friendship cup, got bitten to death but in a nutshell it’s gotta be up there with the best weekends I’ve had. Scootering at its finest.”
A spokesperson for Highland Hospice also gave its thanks via social media.
“So grateful to everyone who organised and contributed to the event in support of the hospice,” they said.
“Over £3000 has been raised which is incredible.”