The campaign to expand an Aberdeen-based neurological centre needs “one big final push” to achieve its £3.9 million target.
Trevor Garlick, a trustee of Sue Ryder Dee View Court’s capital appeal, has urged businesses and individuals to get behind the initiative, with nearly £1 million still required before the Kincorth-based organisation reaches its goal.
Mr Garlick said he and his colleagues were grateful for the backing provided by so many different organisations across the north-east for the centre, which provides 24/7 care for residents with a variety of conditions, including Huntington’s disease, severe stroke, Parkinson’s disease and acquired brain injury.
But while £3 million has already been amassed and the building work for the project is almost finished, there is still a substantial amount to be raised.
Mr Garlick said: “The community has been phenomenal in their support for our appeal and I would like to thank everyone for helping us get to where we are today.
“But it is a big project and there is still £900,000 to go to reach our target, so we can complete all 20 new bedrooms on schedule for November.
“We need one big final push to get the appeal over the finishing line.
“This might sound like a large number, but it would only take 900 of the many local companies in the north-east of Scotland to donate ‘a brick @ £1,000’ to our appeal.
“Alternatively, if every single person in Aberdeen gifted just £4, we’d reach our target.”
The appeal was launched to double the capacity at the centre and provide extra resources for the current facilities, enabling more care to be offered to more people.
It will also create over 70 new job opportunities for the local community.
Work is well underway and many of the 20 new bedrooms have already been completed.
The work also includes lounge conversions and a new four-bedroom garden annexe.
Six new residents, aged between their early 20s and in their 50s, have been transferred from hospitals and care homes.
They are quickly settling into their new surroundings which are more appropriate to the specialist care they require.
The final phase of the project, due for completion in November, is a double storey annexe which will house seven new bedrooms and six supported living apartments.
Mr Garlick added: “I am appealing to anyone who is able to help to please donate and help us get over this final hurdle to expand Scotland’s only purpose-built neurological care centre.”
For further information and details of how to support the Dee View Court appeal, visit www.sueryder.org/deeviewappeal.