North-east farmers’ co-operative ANM Group has presented £80,000 to a local cancer charity following a year of fundraising activities.
The spent a year fundraising for Clan – an Aberdeen-based charity providing support and information to anyone affected by cancer in the north-east, Moray, Orkney and Shetland – to celebvrate 25 years of business at its central hub in Thainstone, Inverurie.
ANM chose to fund raise for the charity because two of its auctioneers, Colin Slessor and Finlay McIntyre, have had cancer in the past. Fundraising efforts throughout 2014, which included a pancake bake-off, a 26-mile walking relay and all staff wearing purple to support the charity one day, brought in £16,000.
They culminated in an anniversary show and sale in January, which brought in another £3,750, and a charity dinner dance with auction which brought the total to £76,158.
This was topped up to £80,000 by the group.
The anniversary show and sale on Friday brought in another £3,750; a heifer donated by group chairman John McIntosh sold to Charles Raeburn of Forbes Raeburn Butchers, Huntly, for £3,500, while a bottle of special edition Johnnie Walker Black Label donated by Sandy Carnie sold for £250 to the group’s Caithness auctioneer John Bremner.
“This fantastic achievement is testimony to the hard work and generosity of all those involved. The total amount has surpassed any of our wildest expectations and it gives me great pride to hand over this cheque to such a worthy cause,” said ANM Group chief executive Pat Machray.
Clan fundraising manager Susan Crighton said: “We are delighted to accept this fantastic donation. It is an incredible total and the money will be put to good use in helping Clan to continue to offer support, throughout the area, to anyone affected by cancer. We are tremendously grateful to the ANM Group and everyone who supported the year of fundraising; I know it was a real team effort.”