Volunteer and help Scotland’s animals

‘We need the support of the public more than ever’ – Diane Aitchison, SSPCA

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to kind hearted people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help raise funds for abused, abandoned and injured animals by volunteering.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity is urging locals to get involved this Scottish Animal Week, which runs from 31 August to 5 September, by shaking a collection tin in their area.

Diane Aitchison, manager of the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balerno, said, “Last year our centre took in over 1,000 animals and we need the support of the public more than ever.

“As an animal welfare charity, we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on the generosity of animal lovers to continue our vital work.

“During Scottish Animal Week we have opportunities to fundraise throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians and we’d be really grateful if locals can get behind our appeal and help.

“Door-to-door fundraising can be carried out between Monday and Friday, while people can hold street collections on the Saturday.

“We encourage people to have a bit of fun and some of our past
volunteers have dressed up in costumes or taken a canine friend along with them.

“Even if someone can only spare an hour or two to shake a collection tin, their time and efforts would be hugely appreciated.”

If you’d like to help fundraise for the Scottish SPCA contact the fundraising team on 03000 999 999 or email fundraising@scottishspca.org

It’s official: Memorial match at Spartans sets new world record

Craig Gowans memorial match smashes world record

The team behind the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have officially become Guinness World Record Holders, smashing the record for the Longest Marathon Playing Football – in aid of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

The group of enthusiastic football fans played out of their skin at The Spartans Ainslie Park home last month, completing a 105 hour-long football match which finished with an impressive final score of 774 – 707!

The game, hosted in memory of the late Falkirk defender Craig Gowans, who tragically died exactly ten years previously, originally hoped to raise £37,000 for the SKFF – inspired by Craig’s professional number at Falkirk, number 37. With donations still coming in, however, the final total is set to reach around £100,000!

The money raised will be used by the Sick Kids Friends Foundation to fund enhancements to the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France, specifically a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name. The space will be a calming room with multi-sensory equipment providing a relaxing and stimulating space for children with sensory impairments.

Ex-Rangers, Hibernain and Scotland boss, Alex McLeish attended the landmark fundraising event, as well as the current Scottish Cup holding manager, John Hughes. Footballers Scott Arfield and Thomas Scobbie were also there to cheer the players on.

Dario Alonzi, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “We’re over the moon to have been officially granted Guinness World Record Holder status – the football match itself was an epic challenge and one that pushed us all to the very limit.

“To come away from the experience with official recognition of our efforts in the form of a World Record, as well as putting Craig’s name in the history books and raising £100,000 to gift to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, is just priceless.

“Again I would like to thank absolutely everyone who played a part in making this match possible, as well as everyone who has donated so generously.”

Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We have been blown away by the funds raised by the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund Football Match. The heroic lengths they have gone to in order to raise this money is something that will never be forgotten.

“Congratulations to the entire team, I’m absolutely delighted to hear that they have become official Guinness World Record Holders – and deservedly so. The money they have raised will help us transform the experience of the young people who visit Edinburgh’s new children’s hospital when it opens its doors in 2017.”

Finlay’s FUNdraising at Ainslie Park this Saturday

Wee Finlay Thomson’s family have organised a charity fundraising event to support the Sick Kids Foundation as a thank you for the excellent treatment they gave Finlay during his battle with cancer …

Most of you know about the football tournament taking place at Spartans this coming Saturday (see yesterday’s post, In Memory of Frankie).

Well, the lovely staff at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre have given us use of one of their halls along with the bouncy castle from 3pm to 5pm.

Other activities for the kids include Beat the goalie, Hook the duck, Splat the rat and Arts & crafts.

There will also be face painting from 3.30pm to 4.45pm courtesy of the very talented Brenda of Bubbly Bees & Co.

We will also have a Bake Sale, Guess the number of sweets and Guess the name of the cuddly toy.

Hopefully you can make it along to either/both the charity events.

Hopefully see you Saturday.

Anna, Bryan & Finlay. Xxx

The link to the event is

https://www.facebook.com/events/692263184240908/

In memory of Frankie

Charity match will raise funds for local youth project

In 2005, Frank McEwan, a local Pilton lad in his twenties, tragically died of cancer. It is a tribute to his vibrant personality that, ten years on, several of his friends wish to pay tribute to him.

Frank, known as Frankie to his friends, was a keen and gifted footballer who played for West Pilton Albion FC. It is therefore fitting that the tribute is in the form of a football match – West Pilton Albion Veterans v Lauriston Thistle.

This will take place at East Pilton Park on Saturday 1 August, kick off 2 pm. As well as the match itself, there will be other attractions like Beat the Goalie, Spot the Ball and a raffle with some excellent prizes generously donated by local businesses. Refreshments will also be served.

As well as a fitting way to honour Frankie’s life, this should prove a really good community event. All proceeds will be donated to Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, which works tirelessly to improve life for local young people and is a cause his friends have no doubt Frankie would have approved of.

More information can be found on Facebook page – Frank McEwan Memorial Match. Come along and have a good afternoon out, but if unable to attend, donations can be made directly to Pilton Youth and Childrens Project, quoting “In memory of Frankie”.

Support the Cash for Kids sleepover

Set your alarm clock: PYCP Friday 31 July!

Tonight hundreds of local children living in poverty will be going to sleep on the floor without even a mattress, or squeezing in with siblings and parents. £100 would buy them each a bed.

You can help! Come and take part in Forth 1’s Cash for Kids ‘Sleepover’ event on Friday 31 July at Pilton Youth & Children’s Project in West Pilton.All you have to do is raise £100 in sponsorship and stay overnight to experience the challenges these children go through on a nightly basis.

Among those who have registered to take part are TRIM’s Robert Pearson and Karma Lennon, who are now looking for sponsors.

Robert Pearson said: “I am in a privileged position were I can help others in our community, over the years I have been involved in TRIM I have visited families who had no beds at all and Mum, dad and the children were sleeping on sheets in one bedroom to keep warm. Thanks to the support of our community I was able to get them beds, sheets and duvets.

“It’s a hard thing to ask for help from people, But residents have grown to trust TRIM and I am confident that people will turn to us for help.Taking part in this sleep over is my way of helping a great appeal, and it’s fantastic to think that our own community will benefit.”

Karma added: “It is sad that in this day and age there are still kids in our area who don’t have the basics they need like a bed. Not getting a good nights sleep can cause numerous problems for kids and affect their lives now and in the future.

“If all it takes is sleeping on a hard surface for one night to help even just one child then I am more than happy to do that. Please sponsor Robert and I – even if it’s just £1.”

To sponsor Robert and Karma, visit
http://muirhouseresidents.co.uk/trim-chairman-and-secretary-to-raise-funds-for-forth-one-bed-appeal/

Or why not get involved yourself? You can download a fundraising pack containing sponsorship forms here!

To register, or for more information, go to: http://www.forth1.com/charity/bed/sleepover/

Remembering a gentle giant

Edinburgh Northern organise charity fundraising tournament in honour of big ‘Loggy’

Following the tragic death of Richard Logg in a car crash on Christmas-Eve 2014, his team mates at Edinburgh Northern Rugby Football Club (@ENRFC) have come together to raise funds in his honour and to keep the memory of a ‘gentle giant’ alive (writes JACOB COURT).

The Club has already run several successful fund raising events for local charities, all chosen by his young family. Widowed & Young (WAY) and Richmond’s Hope, as well as national charity Home Start, have been at the heart of fundraising efforts thus far.

The next event to be hosted looks to celebrate the things that will always remind us of Loggy; a crunching rugby style, a love of spending time with family and friends – and a spirited enthusiasm for mischief and laughs!

Centred round a rugby tournament to celebrate ‘Loggy’ through the sport he loved, the Club are putting on a day of events, aimed at participants of all ages. Rugby, raffles, auctions as well as a BBQ, refreshments, live music and activities for children will all be laid on in order to foster as much as is possible of the spirit that draws people to small, community rugby clubs like Northern.

Donations are welcome but a good attendance would be much preferred with the setting of his home pitch in Inverleith Park being the venue for a three way tournament between his Club, Edinburgh Northern, a ‘Northern Legends’ team and a guest appearance from charity favourites, The Pigbarians.

Edinburgh Northern RFC would like to take this opportunity to welcome anyone with a passion for fun and a love of laughs to join us in Inverleith Park, East Fettes Avenue from 1pm on Saturday 25 July for a day of rugby, family games, barbequed meats and an evening of music.

MY set to grow with £25,000 grant

Muirhouse based MY Adventure (MYA) has received £25,000 to support plans for a training base at Towford to support their employability programme for young people from North Edinburgh.

The funds come from the £1 million Legacy 2014: Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund which was created with investment from the Scottish Government and The Robertson Trust, and has been delivered by these organisations in partnership with Social Investment Scotland, sportscotland and Senscot.

MYA, a trading arm of Muirhouse Youth Development Group, plan to use the funds to help transform the Towford Outdoor Education Centre residential facility in the Borders (pictured above). The space will be turned into a training base for their MY Academy programme, a unique employability scheme for young people in North Edinburgh.

MYA is one of twelve third sector organisations to receive a total of over £250,000 in the fund’s second round of awards to help develop sports facilities for use by their local communities.

Ja:mes Howell, Director of MYA said: “Support from the Legacy 2014 fund will enable MY Adventure to realise the potential of our Towford Outdoor Centre in the Scottish Borders. The centre will operate as a training centre for our MY Academy programme, helping young people in North Edinburgh.

“It will also provide a wild retreat for children and young people from North Edinburgh and a space for meaningful outdoor learning. The Legacy fund will support a project officer to focus on the development of the project as well as community consultation, including conducting a full feasibility report for the building and its land and business planning to ensure the project’s success.

“MY Adventure is looking forward to this exciting project taking shape and offering increased opportunities for the communities of North Edinburgh.”

Alastair Davis, Chief Executive of Social Investment Scotland which administers the fund, said: “MYA has presented a compelling case outlining the benefits of their plans which will provide an incredible opportunity for local young people, families and marginalised communities in North Edinburgh.

We know that sport has the potential to bring a whole range of benefits to local communities and therefore we look forward to seeing the benefits their outdoor learning programme will have on the community of Muirhouse and surrounding areas.”

Other organisations receiving funding include Active Bellshill who will receive £14,000 for the planning of a new sports hub in Glasgow, the Comrie Development Trust who will receive £15,000 to carry out a study into local sports and recreational needs, and Scottish Athletics who will receive £25,000 to look at how they can increase community engagement through their clubs.

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “Small organisations like this are doing tremendous work to encourage more Scots to be more active, more often. Almost a year after Glasgow hosted the best Games ever, it’s important that Scotland continues to benefit from their legacy, and this fund is a key part of those efforts.

“The Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund is there to offer help to social enterprises and to allow them to ensure their long term sustainability. I look forward to seeing the positive impact the Fund will make.”

Kenneth Ferguson, Director of The Robertson Trust, added: “Sport can provide a range of positive benefits for individuals and communities. We are delighted to be able to use this Legacy 2014 programme to support organisations across Scotland which are helping to enhance the lives of the people they work with through sport.”

Seeing Rad: students get competitive for charity

Nursing students raise funds for dementia charity

Edinburgh College’s Access to Nursing students have raised a grand total of £1,512.56 for Alzheimer Scotland to support people in Midlothian living with dementia.

The students have undertaken a challenge set by the charity to see who could raise the most cash, in tandem with the opening of their new Bungalow day centre in Bonnyrigg (pictured below). Up against students from local universities, ten students (and one student’s daughter) and two lecturers raised £1,300 in one day by running in the recent paint-splattered Colour Me Rad 5k race.

They added to the sum by collecting cash across the college’s campuses. If the students’ total is more than their university rivals, Alzheimer Scotland will give them a chance to learn more about the charity’s work at The Bungalow. The students have already completed a module on dementia as part of their course so understand the importance of the charity’s work.

The team’s leader, student Petra Muir, said: “It felt great to actively try to make a positive contribution to Alzheimer Scotland. The money we have raised will go towards helping people with dementia and their families, and we are hopeful that we have raised awareness of the charity and the help and support they can provide.”

Abby Parkhouse, Alzheimer Scotland’s Community Fundraiser said: “It’s a fantastic amount of money raised in such a short space of time and will make a huge different to our Bungalow fundraising campaign. It’s going to be a very close competition.”

RNLI urges: Respect the Water

Over 200 people die accidentally each year in British and Irish waters – and more than half of those who drowned didn’t even plan to get wet …

The RNLI has launched a drowning prevention campaign which aims to reduce deaths by 50%. The ‘Respect the Water’ campaign coincides with the release of figures showing that 24 people died in Scotland’s coastal waters last year.

Over the past five years, an average of 35 people have drowned in Scotland and RNLI aims to halve the number of drownings by 2024.

Most of the deaths – almost a quarter – occurred when people slipped and fell into the water while walking and running. Other causes include people at work (14%), diving (13%), swimming and/or deliberately jumping into the sea (9%) and angling (6%).

RNLI lifeboat crews in Scotland saved 51 lives in 2014, and the charity has highlighted dangers which can be more common in Scotland.

After falling in, people can experience cold water shock or the effects of strong currents under the surface. There are also problems with slippery rocks, sudden waves or unstable ground.

RNLI coastal safety manager for Scotland Michael Avril said: “We want people to enjoy the water but to make sure they respect it.
“Around 35 lives are lost around Scotland’s coast each year but many of these losses could be avoided if people acknowledge the dangers and follow some basic safety advice.”

RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign includes two films which will be shown in cinemas throughout the UK.

https://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=QhMxynB6

http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=xL1O5RjR

Talk about extra time!

World Record-breaking footballers cross the finish line

The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund World Record Breaking Football Match came to a dramatic close last night. The final whistle blew at 10pm – bringing to an end no less than 105 hours of football!

Friends and family of the late football Craig Gowans took on the longest ever 11-a-side football match between the 4 – 8 July, with the final goal score reaching an astounding 774 – 707.

After four days of football played at Spartans’ Ainslie Park stadium, the online and offline fundraising total for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, sits at more than £80,000 and Guinness World Records are expected to approve the record itself in the coming days.

Eoghan Molloy, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “The whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. There were a lot of mixed emotions as the final whistle blew – from relief and tiredness to joy, happiness and everything in between. It was amazing to hear that final whistle and to finish what we set to achieve.

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the supporters and volunteers who came down to support us across the four days. Playing throughout the night was by far the most difficult part of the challenge, but when the sun came up and the crowd returned this completely lifted our spirits. Being able to finish the match is all down to these supporters.”

Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “All of the participants of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have done a tremendous job in completely this outstanding challenge and we feel extremely privileged to be the beneficiary of their efforts.

“The team has smashed its fundraising target in great style and I’d like to congratulate all of them on this wonderful achievement. Not only have they etched Craig’s name into the history books, the money raised will help The Sick Kids Friends Foundation transform the experience of the children and young people who will visit Edinburgh’s new children’s hospital when it opens its doors in 2017.”