20 Years of Fundraising - £45,000 raised for CHAS
Lifelong Cairneyhill residents George MacDonald and daughter Laura Campbell run two very different businesses side by side in the West Fife village, but they are united by a common life-long fundraising cause in CHAS.
The duo’s combined endeavours have raised nearly £45,000 altogether since George started raising money for the charity 20 years ago.
George, aged 75, who alongside brother Ian runs Fairley’s Garden Centre, collects generous donations from their customers at the festive displays they run every December, bringing in £14,631.22 since 1999.
Laura, aged 52, meanwhile, runs fashion outlet La Vida Boutique upstairs at Fairley’s. She has organised two well-attended fashion shows for CHAS, with special themes, auctions and raffles at both events. As a result, Laura and her team have raised a massive £29,809.36.
Laura said: “My dad decided to start fundraising with the Garden Centre’s Christmas display one year, choosing CHAS as the cause to get behind, and it all snowballed from there. I started the shop a few years later and hosted my first fashion show for CHAS in 2008.
“Sadly, in March last year, a very close family friend lost her daughter to a rare condition. Her family relied on the help that only CHAS can provide for three years so we decided to launch a fashion show to raise money in her daughter’s honour.
“My dad and I only drive these things, the local community have really got behind it, donating prizes, their time and of course all this money.”
Sarah Secombes, Head of Community Fundraising at CHAS, said: “We can’t thank George and Laura enough for everything they’ve done and continue to do to raise money for the many babies, children, young people and their families who we help provide vital care and support to. Thanks also go to their customers, families and local community who have taken the cause to heart over the years.”
In Scotland, more than 15,000 children and young people live with life-shortening conditions and CHAS is determined to reach every family who needs it. CHAS works across Scotland, able to provide its hospice services nationwide for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions., CHAS offers palliative, respite and end-of-life care from Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.
CHAS at Home supports families with the services of a hospice yet in their own homes across the whole of Scotland and through its Diana Children’s Nurses working in hospitals across the country, CHAS supports families and clinical teams.