Skye Camanachd Funding Boost For Skye Community Response | |
20 May 2020 A Skye Camanachd fund raiser, which took place on Saturday 16 May 2020, has so far raised over £17,000 for the Skye Community Response group. With NHS Highland and other health and social care providers currently under immense pressure in the face of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Skye Community Response group are doing all they can to ensure staff are supported in their roles and that they have everything they need to continue to provide the highest level of care to our communities and that their lives are made as easy as possible throughout this challenging time. Skye Camanachd were keen to play their part so they organised a virtual 24-hour run, initially intended to cover the 874 miles between John O’Groats and Lands End but which ended up making a return journey before reaching Skye just ahead of midnight, eventually accumulating 2,338 miles. The level of public support was enormous with donations to date exceeding £17,000 and the monies raised will be used to cover the cost of PPE and other equipment. Skye Camanachd’s Will Cowie led the way, setting off from Viewfield Road on a 10 mile run just after midnight whilst the numerous other participants included local councillors and former Skye Camanachd players John Finlayson and Calum Munro as well as Ian Blackford MP, Kate Forbes MSP, STV news reporter Nicola McAlley and Celtic’s Scottish international Ryan Christie who sent a message of support. Former Skye player Somhairle MacDonald chipped in by running a full 26 mile marathon and shinty referee John Angus Gillies joined in to make his contribution. 92 year old Christine MacLeod, herself a nurse back in the day, took part as did Stuart MacDonald on his bike with Michael Bentley ensuring our friends in California were represented. It was also heartening to see a number of players from throughout the shinty community making their donation to the cause. In the end, 440 participants from near and far signed up to walk, jog or run for such a wonderful cause, galvanising public support to the tune of £17,000 under the social media hashtag #supportSkye. Skye Camanachd Chair Fiona Cruickshank was overwhelmed by the support. She said: “Over the course of 24 hours, we set out to cover the distance between John O’Groats and Lands End which is 874 miles but, in the end, we clocked up a staggering 2,338 miles which meant we not only went from John O’Groats and Lands End but also managed the way back again and then before reaching Skye; in fact we even managed to go around Skye and possibly a little bit more which is absolutely phenomenal. “On behalf of Skye Camanachd, I would really like to say thank you very much to everyone who took the time to donate their mileage, to donate their time and also to donate their pounds. The support we’ve been shown as an Island is absolutely phenomenal and it has been an absolute privilege to see everybody’s Strava updates come in and to see the amount of support we have seen on social media so a massive heart-felt thank you to everyone who got involved with the challenge.” Skye Community Response Chair Donnie Nicolson, himself no stranger to an endurance run, added: “What a great event and a great idea this was. It was so inclusive that irrespective of your age, ability or even location, you could do something and chip in a few miles which I think was an excellent idea and obviously it worked really well. “It built up a great momentum over the 24 hours and the money raised was incredible at a time where there is a financial strain on a lot of people. “For folk to dig in and make a donation is hugely important to what we are doing within Skye Community Response which is ultimately here to help and support our community at these testing times. “The wide spectrum of people who took part was a key element, both on and off the Island and indeed across the world, and made it so special. At these testing times, it is events like that this that make you proud of where you come from and makes you realise that we are in this together and that we will come through it. “So to everybody that has done a mile and to everybody who has donated; thank you so much.” The justgiving page for Skye Community Response remains open and can be accessed at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/skye-camanachd |