An Aberdeen community street band in the running to win a new minibus from the Press and Journal says the new wheels will help keep one of its star musicians on the road.
Craig Scott, who plays in the Guarana Street Band, suffers from dementia and his mother says that the group’s weekly sessions at the Ashgrove Children’s Centre is one of the few remaining activities he remembers.
Mrs Scott said a new bus to replace the band’s current ageing vehicle will help her son continue drumming – and keep a smile on his face.
She said: “The minibus that we have right now is absolutely falling to bits.
“We do a lot of community work, going around the various galas and things, and perform, so we need the minibus really to take us out and about.
“My son Craig has been a member for some time now, but he’s now got dementia, and the only thing that’s keeping him going is the drumming.
“He forgets everything else, but he seems to remember that on a Wednesday he does his drumming, and they’ve been absolutely fantastic with him, the band always look out for him.
“But if we don’t have a minibus, we wouldn’t be able to get out to these various places and we may have to stop.
“He loved his drumming before, there was a time that he was too scared to leave his house, even his bedroom, but once he gets drumming it’s amazing, it’s like he’s normal.
“He gets so elated, and almost back to himself. But as soon as the drumming stops, he just sort of withdraws into himself.”
The Press and Journal’s £37,000 bus competition has been sponsored by North Sea company Nexen Petroleum.
The bus will go to a lucky school group, team or club in the Press and Journal circulation area, with the winner selected in September.
Hundreds of organisations have already signed up for their chance to win the much sought-after minibus, but time is running out to enter as next week is the last week tokens will be printed.
All tokens must be sent in by Friday, September 11. For more information and to register visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/minibus