2017 was a positive, productive and promising year for Capital’s charity crew.
Bringing in the new year
- Capital kicked off 2017 by supporting the North Lanarkshire Malawi Charity. Pupils from an Airdrie school penned a collection of diaries entitled ‘Friendship, Family and Faith’ following their experiences of visiting Malawi. Fraser Robertson, Scottish Procurement Framework Manager heard about the trip through North Lanarkshire Council, a long-standing Capital customer. Capital was delighted to print these diaries, which enabled the money raised to go directly to the school’s Malawi’s funds.
Fraser has said:
“We were delighted to support the trip by printing their diaries and hearing the experiences of their trip to Malawi. It’s also fantastic to hear young people being involved in the North Lanarkshire Councils ‘Aiming Higher in Malawi’ charity.”
Fraser Robertson with school staff & pupils
Springing to action
- As the year progressed, Keith Ross, our Service Director from our Aberdeen office ran 1000 miles for Alzheimer Scotland. Keith completed seven runs and marathons covering 1000 miles in one year to help raise vital funds to support people living with dementia. From the Great North Run, the Baker Hughes 10k, the Great Scottish Summer 10k, to the Touch of Tartan Half Marathon! 50-year-old Keith finished by journeying to South Asia for the Nepal Impact Marathon. Go Keith!
Keith has said:
“I have personal experience of coping with a family member with dementia and have close friends with parents living with dementia. I wanted to challenge myself and also support the vital work carried out for people living with dementia and their families.”
Keith Ross for Alzheimer Scotland
Let’s pump up the heat
- The June bloom saw our Service Engineers taking part in a charity match with Vittoria on 11th June. The Edinburgh restaurant chain, Vittoria Group pulled on their football kit to raise money for Cash for Kids. Gordon Brown, one of our Service Engineers took part as Forth 1 Allstars goalkeeper.
- On 17th June, Highland Office Equipment local hero, Colin MacLeod ran and cycled the Highland Cross. The Training Officer of our Inverness branch took part in the L’Étape du Tour in the south of France. He joined Chris Barnett, owner of Roy Homes Ltd, and David MacDonald, director at Global Infrastructure. The group raised £2,000 for national charity Children with Cancer.
- As summer continued, so did Capital’s charity. On 12th August, Norma Mackenzie, also of our Inverness branch, completed the Great Wilderness Challenge. Norma walked the 13 miles from Aultbea to Poolewe in aid of The Samaritans. Norma has also been a listener (volunteer) with the Samaritans Inverness branch for 10 years now and finds it both rewarding and at times extremely challenging.
Norma has said:
“Samaritans listen, they care and they do not judge. They provide emotional support nationwide at 201 centres staffed and run by volunteers. The money I raise[d] will go straight to the Inverness branch so that we can continue to offer support to those who so desperately need it.”
Football with Vittoria & Forth 1 Cash for Kids
As the leaves fell, our spirit did not
- 1st September saw continued support for Borders Change Foundation. The Foundation was originally set up by James Marjoribanks to support local health charities. This year’s event took place at the Carfraemill Lodge Hotel, and was in aid of the Borders Macmillan Cancer Centre‘s redesign and extension. In total, nearly £25,000 was raised this year. The funds went towards the support of many units within the cancer centre.
- We totalled nearly £441.56 for Macmillan Cancer through our Macmillian Coffee Mornings held throughout our Scottish branches. We also had a dress down day in aid of Children in Need in the autumn and raised £76 for the charity.
- On 29th October there was a sponsored skydive for MS Scotland. Lynsey Flockhart, daughter of Capital’s Founder & Managing Director, took the leap for MS Scotland. Lynsey jumped a tandem dive from 10,000 ft at Skydive St Andrews in Glenrothes. She also raised £590 in total for MS Scotland, a community for people living with MS that ranges from scientists, campaigners, volunteers and fundraisers. This is a very fitting charity for Lynsey, as she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 14 years ago.
Lynsey has said:
“It was the most surreal, intense and amazing thing I’ve ever done. I would highly recommend anyone give it a go!”
Good tidings we bring
- As Christmas approaches, Capital’s charity efforts see us once more teaming up with Forth 1 Radio Station for Cash For Kids: Mission Christmas. Cash for Kids works with thousands of organisations across the UK who support disadvantaged children aged 0 – 18. Mission Christmas works closely with social workers, head teachers and also the emergency services. All branches of Capital and Highland Office Equipment will host a Christmas Jumper Day. The Edinburgh and Aberdeen branches are serving as drop-off points for donated gifts. Find out more about how you can donate right now, right here.
Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas
Another successful year for Capital’s charity fundraising, and here’s to many more!
“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Goran Persson.
Posted in About Us, Inverness, Meet the Team, Special Interest
