A major fundraising campaign has been launched to help establish an international peace centre on the shores of Loch Ness.
The project, dubbed the 500 Heroes, is being launched this week by Kagyu Samye Dzong Highlands, the local branch of the world famous Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre.
The group hope to create the retreat in the Drumnadrochit area and could start in the autumn if negotiations over a building come to fruition.
The location of the preferred site remains a mystery but it is understood that it will overlook the loch.
The Highland branch of the Tibetan Centre are planning on recruiting caring individuals and companies from within the community to help make their plans a reality.
Anyone who successfully takes on the challenge of being a “peace hero” will become a founder of the peace project which will have as its centrepiece a memorial blessed by the Dalai Lama, when he visited the Highlands in June 2012.
As well as serving the needs of the people of the Highlands, it is being designed with the aim of attracting additional visitors from around the world to the area.
Established by the Tibetan Buddhists who have settled in Samye Ling near Lockerbie for the past four decades and have made Scotland their home, the centre will be inter-denominational and will be open to people of all faiths or none.
Project spiritual director Lama Gelongma Zangmo said: “As with many such charity projects, there is a need for fundraising right now and that is why the heroes are being sought to help bring the centre into being.
“We are looking for 500 heroes who can each raise £1,000 by taking part in sponsored events or by making donations. This is an exciting opportunity to create another of our successful peace and health centres in such a remarkable part of the country and we urge people to please contact us to see how they can help.
“We know the people of the Highlands are the most generous in the country when it comes to supporting charities. We are therefore confident this target can be met in a very short space of time.
“The corporate sector are being invited to help as well, with due recognition being offered for all those who become a hero.”
To coincide with the launch of the 500 Heroes campaign, Kagyu Samye Dzong Highlands is setting up a new website – www.ksdhighlands.org.uk