Mar 102017
 

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates.

Sick, disabled and disadvantaged children living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will benefit after six local couples said ‘I do’ to raising thousands of pounds for charity for the chance to win a dream wedding.
The brides and grooms to be were taking part in Aberdeen-based children’s charity Cash for Kids’ annual Win Your Wedding fundraising competition.

On offer for the couple who raised the most money was an exclusive wedding package at a leading four-star Aberdeenshire hotel. 

In total, the six duos raised £57,191.20 in just two weeks. They took on a wide range of fundraising challenges, including a five-a-side football tournament, pub quizzes, coffee mornings, auctions, bucket collections, a duck race, bag-packing and sponsored leg waxing and beard-shavings.

Raising the most money were Ellon couple Natasha Matthew and Grant Reid who collected £12,197.83. The reward for their efforts was a dream wedding day at the award-winning Meldrum Country House Hotel. The winners’ wedding package, which is worth around £25,000, includes a reception in the Oldmeldrum hotel’s new ballroom, which opened last year.

Also included in the wedding package are venue décor, a wedding dress, grooms’ wear, flowers, wedding rings, health, fitness and beauty packages, along with wedding cars, photography and childcare for the big day. All of the items have been donated by local businesses.

Natasha and Grant, who met at school and got engaged eight years ago, say they’re really proud of their achievement. Natasha said:

“Grant and I have really enjoyed raising the money for Cash for Kids, but we could not have done it without all of our supporters who have been so generous with their time and money. We really can’t thank everyone enough and we can’t wait to start planning our big day as soon as possible.”

Over the past six years the Win Your Wedding contest has seen couples who are planning to tie the knot raise over £185,000 for Cash for Kids. 

The charity provides grant funding to individuals, families and community groups on a quarterly basis and all of the money that the competition raises is used to help fulfil these grant applications. The deadline for submitting applications for the next round of grant funding is Friday, 14 April.

Michelle Ferguson, Cash for Kids charity manager, said:

“We are very grateful to our couples who have all made such an amazing effort to collectively raise more than £57,000. Our thanks must also go to everyone who has helped them raise this phenomenal amount of money by taking part in their fundraising initiatives and donating to Cash for Kids.

“Every penny that the couples raised is distributed to individual children, families and community groups in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, making a huge difference to their lives. The couples’ hard work and enthusiasm has been second to none.

“The support and generosity shown by the local businesses who helped us put together this fantastic package for Win Your Wedding is very much appreciated.

“Meldrum House is a stunning setting for a wedding and the hotel’s involvement has certainly helped generate interest in the contest. Without the support of all the businesses, we would not be able to run this competition or assist all the children that we do through our unique grant scheme.”

Cash for Kids is Northsound Radio’s listeners’ charity. It makes grants to individuals, families, children’s groups, organisations and projects throughout the Northsound transmission area. All money is raised locally and spent locally to benefit local disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under 18.

More information on Cash for Kids can be found at www.northsound1.com/cashforkids, or telephone 01224 337010.

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