University staff raise over £3000 for Highland Hospice

University of the Highlands and Islands employees have handed over £3255 to the Highland Hospice following a major fundraising drive. The Hospice was nominated as the organisation’s charity of the year in 2013 following a staff vote.

Fundraising activities throughout the year included coffee mornings, raffles, a pool competition, a bowling night and a barbeque.

Individual members of staff also undertook challenges to add to the cause. In April, Anne Walker, David Haddow, Lyndsay MacColl and Helen Anton from Inverness were joined by Roger Sendall from Culbokie, Susan Szymborski from Dingwall and Tim Skyrme from Pitcalnie, Easter Ross, in the Black Isle Cycle Challenge. The team, which also included employees’ family members, completed the 20 mile route, raising over £360.

The university also fielded a team for the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running which took place in Inverness in September. Each of the nine employees completed either the 5K, 10K or marathon route, raising £600. The runners were Anne Walker, Helen Anton, Martin Duffy, Jeanne Boyd, Jane Scott, Iona MacDonald, Tara Black and Lyndsay MacColl from Inverness and Anna Enos from Avoch.

Speaking about the cycle, run and staff’s fundraising efforts as a whole, Anne Walker, an intranet and records management officer at the university’s executive office and a member of its social committee, said: “It was a pleasure to raise money for such a worthwhile charity, everyone involved pledged their support and commitment. The cycle challenge proved to be a great experience, it was a fantastic way to raise money and experience the delightful surroundings of the Black Isle. The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon gave fundraising staff the opportunity to participate at varying levels, which provided a great sense of accomplishment for all involved whilst they were supporting such a fantastic charity.”

The university’s donation will be used to support the work of the Hospice - the only facility of its kind for adults with incurable, life-limiting diseases in the Highlands.

Welcoming the contribution, Highland Hospice fundraising manager, Linda MacDonald, said: “Thank you so much to the University of the Highlands and Islands for again selecting us as their charity of the year. We are really grateful to everyone who has put in the time and effort to fundraise for us and it has been so great to see a university presence at many of our most popular fundraising events, including the Black Isle Cycle Challenge and Baxters Festival of Running. This generosity will really help us to continue to provide a high standard of care for our patients and their families at a difficult time in their lives.”

University employees now hope to raise even more money for their charity of 2014, the Highland Foodbank.