Fundraising Archives - Page 14 of 18

Sign Up To Popular Walk Around The Granite City

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Jun 252015

The CLAN Landmark Walk is a sponsored walk which takes in various sights around Aberdeen.

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Citrus Mix.

Walkers are signing up in their droves as preparation gathers pace for CLAN Cancer Support’s annual Landmark Walk.
The charity’s popular walking event, sponsored by Bond Dickinson, is returning on September 27 and will feature two routes of either 13 or 7.8 miles, taking in a variety of prominent sights throughout the city.

CLAN is now appealing for marshals and volunteers to come forward to help with a range of activities on the day itself.

An array of roles are available for those able to give up some time to help the charity, from handing out water to manning junction points and giving out medals and goody bags.

Susan Crighton, CLAN’s fundraising manager, said:

“The Landmark Walk has grown into one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and we are all really looking forward to it. We rely on the generosity and kindness of our volunteers who enable events like this to go ahead, and hundreds came forward last year to help us out. This was absolutely incredible and is something we are hoping to repeat.

“We have had a great response so far with the number of people that have signed up to take part in the event, and I would like to encourage even more to join us and raise money for CLAN. It really is such a fun thing to take part in, and there is always a fantastic atmosphere.”

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

For more information about volunteering or taking part in the Landmark Walk contact Steph.dowling@clanhouse.org

For further information about CLAN Cancer Support please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org

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Ceremony Cements Community Contribution To City Project

Aberdeen City, Community, Featured No Responses »

Jun 252015

Zachariah Raja with the brick he laid as part of the ongoing Masjid Alhikmah project in Aberdeen.

With thanks to Paul Smith, Citrus Mix.

Community support for a landmark development in the heart of Aberdeen has been set in stone during a fitting ceremony to mark the latest stage of construction.
The Masjid Alhikmah, on the city’s Nelson Street, will feature community and youth facilities as well as prayer halls for north-east Muslims.

On Friday, June 19 families gathered to play their part in the build process when they took the opportunity to lay bricks in the foundations of the three-storey building.

The event coincided with the start of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.

Each of the bricks had been sponsored during a fundraiser for the development earlier this year, with the Alhikmah Foundation continuing to work towards hitting its £1.7million target. More than half of that sum has already been donated, with the effort aided by the donation of the site.

Recent events included a sponsored expedition to Snowdonia earlier this month, with 12 intrepid participants, and next on the agenda is the latest in a series of fundraising dinners on July 1 at the Hilton Treetops in Aberdeen. Full and half tables for the Iftar dinner are available.

With costs being met entirely by community fundraising, the dedication of the project’s supporters has been welcomed by foundation committee members. The organisation’s annual report for 2014 has recently been published, outlining progress to date.

A spokesman said:

“Masjid Alhikmah is a community focused facility and we are incredibly grateful to all who have contributed. The sponsorship of the foundation bricks is an excellent example – with many families quick to support that initiative. We are delighted to welcome everyone to the site to set their bricks, a very symbolic part of the project.

“Every penny spent on the project will come from fundraising by our supporters and the response has been excellent. There is still a great deal of hard work to be done to realise our vision, but the energy and the commitment of the many people who are fundraising is an inspiration to everyone involved in the project.”

Masjid Alhikmah will feature space for worship, funeral preparations, dedicated women’s facilities and a family community centre. There is an active Muslim community living in and around the city of Aberdeen and the facility is designed to help create unity and foster a sense of harmony between Muslims and fellow north-east residents. The name chosen for the new centre stems from Arabic. Masjid translates as “a place of congregational worship” and Alhikmah as “wisdom”.

CHAP Group’s construction division is the main contractor for the structural and external aspects of the scheme. Work began in January, with the structural steel frame of the building now in place and the exterior due to be completed by August. The second phase will include all interior work.

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Mini Donated To Clan Cancer Support Annual Raffle

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire No Responses »

Jun 192015

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Citrus Mix.

Domino’s Pizza has made a delivery with a difference by donating a brand new Mini to a leading north-east charity’s fundraising campaign.

CLAN Cancer Support had initially appealed to businesses to sponsor the car by taking up five advertising slots before the fast food outlet generously stepped in to support the charity.

The public will be able to get a slice of the fundraising action as the Mini will be driven to a wide range of shows, exhibitions and shopping centres across the length and breadth of the north-east before being raffled off for CLAN.

Susan Crighton, CLAN fundraising manager, said:

“We were absolutely delighted when Domino’s Pizza came forward with the Mini. It is such a generous gesture which means a lot as the raffle is a hugely important fundraising event for us which gets a lot of support from the public.

“The car will soon be going on a fantastic tour of the north-east to sell tickets for the raffle, which will also be available to purchase from CLAN House or from our range of charity shops across the north-east.”

The draw will also be supported by the area’s Rotary clubs who have helped conduct an annual car raffle since 2000, helping raise over £500,000 for a variety of local causes in the process.

Ian Smith, owner of the Domino’s Pizza Franchise in Aberdeen and Inverurie said:

“CLAN is a charity that is very close to my heart. The staff at CLAN House do an amazing job supporting people affected by cancer and I am happy that I have been given the opportunity to help with their fundraising activities.”

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

For further information about CLAN Cancer Support please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org

Local Team Take On Longest Day Golf Challenge

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Jun 052015

With thanks to Cate Gordon, Tricker PR.

Four friends from Aberdeen are undertaking the Longest Day Golf Challenge in order to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenge, taking place on Friday 19th June, will see the team play four local golf courses in one day. Tee off will be at 5.15am and an expected arrival at the final 18th hole at 10pm.

The group will play Newmachar Hawkshill, Newmachar Swailend, Kemnay and Westhill Golf Club courses.

A total of 72 holes of golf will be played on the day, 300 shots and 20 miles walked as they take on the challenge.

Richard Craig, team captain said:

“We all know someone who has been affected by cancer but even as medical breakthroughs continue and survival rates are higher than ever funding is still needed to continue the fight against cancer. Playing four rounds of golf simultaneously is nothing compared to the hardship cancer sufferers and their families undergo. So we are pleased to help in our own way towards this great cause”

Donations can be made via the fundraising page; www.justgiving.com/GolfchallengeABERDEEN/

Reputable Animal Charities Initiative

Aberdeenshire, Articles, Featured 3 Responses »

May 292015

There are thousands of animal welfare charities that compete for donations; but scratch the surface of some of them, and you might not like what you find. Are animals well treated? Are animals being bred to fund such ‘charities’, rather than encouraging animal sterilization and adoption? Are some so-called shelters asking for donations to ‘save’ animals with one hand sending animals to market and slaughter with the other hand? Some local charities have banded together to help would-be donors know what kind of organisations are out there. With thanks to Suzanne Kelly.

Geese at Willows Animal Sanctuary – Credit: Rob Scott for Aberdeen Voice.

In light of recent events, four well-known animal welfare charities have formed a new organisation known as RE.A.CH to represent ‘Reputable animal charities’.

The aim of RE.A.CH. is to set a ‘baseline’ standard of excellence that all members are required to meet. All members of RE.A.CH are registered animal charities that conform to the following declaration:

They are No Kill
They will never deliberately breed from their animals.
They will not fund their rescues from the sale of animals.
Members will strive to provide the best environment for their rescues, the best veterinary care and when rehoming animals or releasing wildlife, to do this in the best interests of the animals involved.

A spokesperson for the group said:

“The group has been set up to help assure the public that the support they give is being treated in a responsible and ethical manner. The public can be assured that animals that come into the care of any RE.A.CH member will be well looked after by knowledgeable, experienced people who have the ability to provide long term care for them.”

As the law stands anyone can set themselves up and call themselves a ‘sanctuary’. It is important to point out that these so called ‘animal rescues’ are not official charities, they are under no obligation to account for the funds they raise, how they are used, what they do with them or how they provide for the animals in their care.

It is disturbing to see groups or individuals asking the public to fund their animals under the banner of ‘not for profit’ or for ‘a charitable cause’ when they may have questionable knowledge, no accountability and no set standards of care and in some cases little or no actual experience.

Often many of these rescues start off with good intentions, but soon run into problems through overcrowding, lack of experience and of course, lack of funding leading them on a very rapid descent where they are suddenly faced with outstanding vet and feed bills which soon becomes an animal welfare issue resulting in either the animals being put down, panic re-homing to unsuitable homes or other sanctuaries having to pick up the pieces.

“We felt it necessary to form a charter outlining our responsibilities. All of us need the support of the general public to continue our existence, but we are constituted to do so in a responsible manner.”

The four founding members of RE.A.CH are:

Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary
Halfpenny – Farm Animal Sanctuary
The New Arc
Willows Animal Sanctuary

Between them they currently care for over 1000 animals. The plan is to extend membership of the group to encompass other reputable animal welfare organisations who are prepared to meet the necessary criteria.

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Runners Show Support For CLAN At Baker Hughes 10k

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

May 222015

With thanks to Paul Smith, Citrus Mix.

Hundreds of runners have shown their support for a leading north-east cancer support charity by taking part in the Baker Hughes 10k road race on its behalf.

Over 115 individuals laced up their running shoes in support of CLAN Cancer Support at the popular event on Sunday (May 17), helping raise thousands of pounds for the charity with donations still flooding in.

Runners were also accompanied by charity mascot CLANCY who was taking part in the race for the first time. The charity also helped provide marshals to help with the event itself.

Organised by Sport Aberdeen, the beachfront run is the largest 10k race in the north-east and attracts thousands of participants on a yearly basis.

Susan Crighton, CLAN’s fundraising manager, was delighted with the support shown towards the charity.

She said:

“CLAN has had a presence at the Baker Hughes race for a number of years now and the support for the charity really has grown in tandem with the popularity of the event.

“Across the entire morning, there was a sea of runners donned in CLAN t-shirts making their way along the route and I’d like to personally thank each and every person who gave up their time to run for the charity at the race.

“Donations are still flooding in and all funds raised from the race will go directly towards our provision of free support services to anyone affected by cancer. Participating in events like these on our behalf really does help us in all that we do.”

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer.

CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness. Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

For further information about CLAN Cancer Support please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org

Gardener’s Question Time Supports Local Charity

Aberdeen City, Charity No Responses »

Apr 032015

With thanks to Michael Jamieson.

Disability charity Momentum Skills has announced details of their next fundraising event.
Beechgrove Garden presenters Jim McColl and Carole Baxter will be answering questions at a Gardener’s Question Time on Wednesday 29th April in the Inverurie Town Hall at 7.30pm. Joining Jim (pictured) and Carole on the panel will be locally based horticultural advisor and soft fruit specialist, Colin Stirling.

The evening will be hosted by STV news presenter Chris Harvey. They have all given their time in supporting this, the very first Gardener’s Question Time in aid of Momentum Skills.

Momentum is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing rehabilitation, training and care services for disabled and socially excluded people in Aberdeen and North East at their Centre in Migvie House, Aberdeen.

They empower people to gain the skills and confidence they need to live independently and to fulfil employment goals. Momentum’s services help a wide range of people, including those with a brain injury, spinal injury, mental health difficulty, physical or learning disability, all in the areas of employment and training, job retention and community rehabilitation.

Momentum Fundraiser Michael Jamieson said:

“We are most grateful to Jim, Carole, Colin and Chris for giving their time and expertise to help raise funds to support the continuing work of Momentum in the North East.

“This is the ideal opportunity for all budding gardeners, and indeed those like myself who perhaps just want to find out about gardening generally, to come along and have their horticultural problems and queries answered by these three gardening experts. Of course we also have one of STV’s top presenters hosting the event for us which will most certainly add to the overall enjoyment of the event.”

Tickets cost £8, including refreshments, and are available in advance from Michael Jamieson on 07739 526531

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Aberdeen Asset Management Shortlisted For Award

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 132015

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR.

Aberdeen Asset Management is being recognised for its efforts that go beyond commercial success and make a valuable contribution to society.

It has reached the finals of the which acknowledge excellence in environmental performance, sustainable investing, business ethics, transparency, support for non-profit organisations, and more.

Being shortlisted in the Commitment to the Community (national company) category, Aberdeen Asset Management has demonstrated wide reaching work carried out by the company and its employees including direct charitable donations, business advice, an apprenticeship scheme, sponsorship and scholarships and volunteering.

Last year alone, the Aberdeen city office gave a total of £90,000 directly to charity appeals, which included an initial £30,000 to the Coats for Kids appeal which ensured that 300 children living in poverty in Aberdeen were kitted out with cosy seasonal clothing. When the appeal was oversubscribed, Aberdeen added a further £7,500 to the campaign.

Advice and support can be just as valuable as cash donations, and one senior manager worked for a year to develop a strategy for charity Shmu FM which supports residents in seven regeneration areas of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen has run highly successful paid intern and graduate programmes for many years and in 2012 created a pilot apprenticeship scheme for pupils who want to enter the world of work straight from the classroom, with five school leavers from Harlaw and St Machar Academies, who began their apprenticeships in either business or technology disciplines.

This programme has continued to flourish and as a result of its success is being rolled out to other locations.

As the annual sponsor of the Aberdeen Universities’ Boat Race, the company not only provides a significant prize pot which enables both of the city’s universities to retain their rowing clubs, but also gives full race kit for participants and a fully funded marketing and PR for the event.

Aberdeen has recently confirmed renewed funding of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy, Banffshire.

After its four year sponsorship deal with Aberdeen Asset Management came to an end, festival organisers struggled to find a successor. Aberdeen threw a lifeline to the event – which attracts 16,000 visitors per year and provides significant benefits to the local economy – by agreeing to continue its support this year and into 2016.

In addition, Aberdeen is a Living Wage Employer

The Glover Scholarship marks Aberdeen’s relationship with Mitsubishi, and the firm funds an annual summer scholarship which enables one Scottish student to travel to Japan for a six-week intensive language course.

Aberdeen also encourages volunteering and has a generous volunteer leave policy in place. In May last year, the company took part in a 24 hour global volunteering day challenge to coincide with Give and Gain Day.

Over 10% of the workforce from 24 cities took part – starting the day in Sydney and moving across the globe, finishing in Toronto, Philadelphia and São Paulo.

During the AAM Scottish Open 2014, over £73,000 was raised for The ARCHIE Foundation (Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital), the official charity partner.

In addition, Aberdeen is a Living Wage Employer, operates a payroll giving scheme, with the company matching all employee contributions, and encourages all employees to reduce the environmental impact of the company’s operations through promoting environmental awareness such as participation in Earth Hour, promoting the cycle to work scheme and supporting energy reduction across its global operations.

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, says;

“Aberdeen values all the communities in which it operates and invests, and where social issues exist we try to play a part in helping alleviate these.

“In particular, we seek partnerships with smaller charities and causes, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact.

“We encourage employees to use their time and skills to support our charitable projects and it is pleasing to see the difference this can make to communities and society.”

Aberdeen Asset Management is one of more than 60 companies across a diverse range of industries shortlisted for the inaugural awards and the winners will be revealed at a ceremony to take place in London on 14 May.

The new event is separate but complementary to the Charity Times awards.

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Turning Your Old Music Into Life Saving Cash

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Feb 202015

Oxfam Area Manager Peter Roy, who is leading the initiative, is pictured with Dons players Scott Brown, Adam Rooney, Jamie Langfield and Russell Anderson 2

Oxfam Area Manager Peter Roy with Scott Brown, Adam Rooney, Jamie Langfield and Russell Anderson.

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Aberdeen Football Club is supporting Oxfam in this Saturday prior to the SPFL Premiership match against St. Mirren at Pittodrie.

The charity will have a collection point outside the Richard Donald Stand between noon and 3 pm.

Dons skipper Russell Anderson said.

“We would like to ask the Red Army to help support Oxfam by donating CD’s , LP’s & records, DVD’s and sheet music that you no longer use.

“Your donations can help people around the world fight their way out of poverty and change lives for good. Oxfam desperately need music donations as these can make up to a quarter of the money raised in some shops.

“Please bring along any CD’s, LP’s, records ,DVD’s or sheet music that you can spare – their sales will make such a difference to those people who have so little.”

The sale of just 4 CD’s could provide safe water for 10 People in Sierra Leone, ensure School supplies for pupils in Ethiopia or help families fight food poverty here in the UK.

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Hoteliers Donate £45,000 To Teenage Cancer Trust

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, News No Responses »

Feb 052015

Chris McGuinness, Gary Cox, Abigail Cox, Dawn Cox, Sharon Sheridan, Brian Sheridan2

ACSHA chairman Chris McGuinness, Gary Cox, Abigail Cox and Dawn Cox hand over the cheque to Sharon Sheridan and Brian Sheridan. (L-R)

With thanks to Eoin Smith.

A group of hoteliers inspired by the bravery of an Aberdeenshire teenager who is battling cancer has smashed the target of a fund-raising campaign set up in her name.

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association (ACSHA) has handed over £45,000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust – more than double the size of the donation that it had initially hoped to make.

ACHSA members rallied round for the charity after learning how it was supporting 18-year-old Abigail Cox – the daughter of hotelier and association member Gary Cox – while she is undergoing treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma.

Abigail has received treatment for her illness – a rare bone cancer affecting children and adolescents – at units run by the Teenage Cancer Trust in Glasgow and Edinburgh. She has now completed a course of chemotherapy and will undergo an operation later this week to remove bone where the tumour started.

ACHSA decided to embark on the fund-raising campaign to show their support for the Cox family from Inverurie, and to highlight the work being carried out the by the Trust. Members handed over the final tally at the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, and were joined by Abigail and her parents, who run The Northern Hotel in Aberdeen and Edward’s nightclub in Inverurie.

Abigail said:

“After a long and difficult year of treatments my life will soon be back to as normal as possible.

“The Teenage Cancer Unit at the Western General in Edinburgh really made my stay in hospital as easy and as comfortable as it could be. My year would have been so much more difficult and depressing without them, and I can’t thank them enough.

“You are surrounded by people your own age who can really relate and understand what you are going through and the nurses are always so friendly and positive. They help you to keep a smile on your face. Everyone involved in The Teenage Cancer Unit genuinely cares about you and your recovery.

“They treat you like a teenager and not just a cancer patient. The unit provided the best possible support for both me and my family.”

ACSHA chairman Chris McGuinness added:

“We thought that a £20,000 target was ambitious, so never in our wildest dreams did we consider that we would raise double that amount. I’m really proud of the way in which members have embraced this opportunity to support a charity which has been so instrumental in helping one of our own.

“The presentation was made all the more special by the fact that Abigail and her parents were able to join us on stage. It was great to see that Abigail has been responding well to her treatment, and I know that is in no small part down to the help she has been getting from the Teenage Cancer Trust.

“She has been receiving treatment in the south of Scotland, miles away from family and friends, and the fact that the Trust has been able to treat her in centres specifically for teenagers, alongside teenage patients, has helped her to remain positive.”

In addition to organising collections in hotels and setting up an online fund-raising page, hotel managers staged a Workathon in which they walked between member hotels and carried out tasks from serving drinks to cleaning floors at each venue. Some of the proceeds from ticket sales for the tourism awards was also donated to the cause.

Christine Jason, head of regional fund-raising (North) for the Teenage Cancer Trust, is full of praise for the work of ACHSA members and how they worked together.

She added:

“We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and energy of everyone involved and this has resulted not only in a significant level of funds being raised in the North East but also an increased awareness of our work. The Association has been instrumental in introducing our work to businesses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

“The money raised through the Association will go towards ensuring every young person with cancer has access to expert support. It will mean that they are treated in an age-appropriate environment and given the medical and emotional support that they need.”

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association represents 43 independently operated hotels and conference venues. These hotels provide around 4,100 bedrooms in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The Association is committed to improving the quality and standard of hotel services and to furthering the overall standards of excellence and hospitality within the region.

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