A Moray voluntary group has been given the royal seal of approval on its biggest week of the year.
The Rotary Club of Elgin is staging its biennial Marafun relay race on Sunday, and ahead of the big day it has been given the Queen’s Award for voluntary service – the highest award a group of its kind can receive.
Club president Lawrence Fraser will now attend a garden party at Holyrood next month, where he will meet the Queen and other award winners.
He said: “This award recognises the range of projects that our rotary club has delivered over many years both locally and internationally.
“The Marafun on Sunday will see many diverse organisations coming together, with every corner of Moray benefiting from the money raised.”
Local leaders rushed to praise the 89-year-old institution.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: “The club and its committed volunteers thoroughly deserve this recognition for support they have provided to an incredible number of local projects and the sums of money they have raised for good causes over decades.
“I hope the community will help them celebrate this award by turning out in huge numbers to support the Marafun.”
Moray MP Angus Robertson added: “My congratulations on achieving the accolade of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service go to everyone involved in Elgin Rotary both past and present.”
On Sunday around 100 teams will take to the streets of Elgin to compete in the charity relay race.
Since its inception in 1991, the event has raised £650,000 for local charities. The run will be held from noon to 5pm.