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Katie clocks up the miles and cash for refugees


By Alan Beresford

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HILL, dale and the waves have proved to be no hindrance to a Lintmill woman raising a four-figure sum to help those who have had to flee their homes to escape war or persecution.

Katie MacLean (52) has spent September walking, cycling, running and rowing her way to a £1500 donation for the Red Cross's Miles for Refugees, signing up to cover a total distance of 93 miles. This represents the distance between Damascus and Beirut, an example of the journey a refugee might be forced to make in search of safety.

"I'm very grateful to everyone who supported me," Ms MacLean said.

"I had lots of people giving what they could, which was wonderful especially in these times when many people don't have a lot.

"It says a lot about their commitment to helping those in great need.

"A lot of people don't know about the Red Cross's work with refugees in this country, especially helping reuniting refugee families and I wanted to raise the profile of this as well as money.

"With the Covid-19 pandemic families being reunited after being separated is something a lot of people have been talking about so I thought it would be good to help raise money for those trying to bring refugee families together.

"Doing the challenge also helped get me out and moving again. Before lockdown I'd regularly travel around for my job but then I was working from home after March. I'm an outdoor enthusiast but I have to admit I haven't been too enthusiastic for a while now!"

There was a both a personal and professional spur for Ms MacLean, who manages Aberdeenshire Council’s Refugee Resettlement Programme.

She continued: "I work with both the Red Cross and the UNHCR as well as Cosla to help resettle some of the most vulnerable refugee families in Aberdeenshire.

"These are typically people with serious medical conditions or who are victims of violence or torture. We work together to help them settle and rebuild their lives.

"For the last five years it's been a privilege to play a small part in co-ordinating efforts to get families back together, to build a new life for themselves and seeing those families –most of whom don't speak much or any English when they arrive – doing really well and enjoying their lives as New Scots.

"We should remember we're very fortunate never to have faced a situation where we've had to flee our homes because of war, persecution or violence. At the end of the day, people are people."

In 2019, British Red Cross refugee service supported 38,900 people in the UK, and this year they have been supporting people in the asylum system and refugees throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Amadi, Chief Supporter Officer at British Red Cross, said: “When so many people have been hit so hard by coronavirus, this is a really humbling achievement by all the participants and everyone who sponsored them.

"Thank you so much to everyone who took part, I’m so proud of what we have all done together, and I’m excited to see if we can top this next year!”

The support from participants and everyone who has sponsored them has come as debates about Channel crossings and support for people seeking safety in the UK have dominated the news agenda.

The money raised will go towards supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. From providing people with the basics – like food and clothes – to supporting them through the complex asylum application process. It will help people to stay safe and prevent them from falling into destitution.

Emma McCarthy, Scottish Refugee Services manager added: “This show of solidarity, let alone the incredible amount of money raised, will have a huge impact on the people we support.

"We all have to remember these are people who have been forced to make dangerous and desperate journeys, fleeing unimaginable horrors, such as war and persecution. The money raised will help the British Red Cross make refugees and people seeking asylum feel welcome and supported and help them to rebuild their lives here.”

Money raised will go towards supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK, from providing basics like food and clothes to supporting them through the asylum application process.

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