PICTURES: Community rally behind Boxing Day dook for Buckie's Roots
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OVER 20 hardy souls braved the chilly waters off Strathlene to raise hundreds of pounds for an award-winning Buckie community group.
A 10-minute spell in the freezing water of the Moray Firth brought its own reward, with almost £400 collected for Buckie's Roots.
Encouraging the community to give something back to a group which has given so much to the town was the motivator for event organiser Nicola Gordon.
She explained: "Me and my husband we're just coming back into Buckie one day and we saw Buckie's Roots volunteers out near the Moravian garage picking up litter.
"I said to my husband that they were out in all weathers doing things for the community and wouldn't it be nice if maybe the community could do something for them for a change.
"My pal Emma and I go dooking every week so we got the idea of doing a dook for Buckie's Roots. At first we thought of asking folk to get sponsorship but then decided to just ask for a donation as it would be more inclusive.
"When the event went up on Facebook quines from Parklands and Burnbank care homes were the first to sign up.
"It was very successful and that was all because the community came together to make it happen.
"We're now hoping to make the dook an annual event for charity."
Helping the effort on dry land was Dave the Chef who was on hand with sum much needed mulled wine and hot chocolate.
Thanks to the efforts of all involved, a sum of £396.40 was raised.
Among them was Denise Risk, manager of both Parklands and Burnbank, who described Buckie’s Roots as a “fantastic” organisation.
She said: “What would possess anyone to get into the sea on a literally freezing cold Boxing Day morning?
"For the hardy volunteers who signed up to support Buckie’s Roots on behalf of Parklands and Burnbank care homes, it was a decision they were all determined to follow through on, even as they sat in their cars waiting for their windscreens to defrost. Everyone made it back safely and our feet are almost thawed out now, so it was most definitely a worthwhile event and one we will look back on with fondness and pride.
“Buckie's Roots carries out fantastic voluntary work keeping the public and private green spaces in our local community looking smart, tidy and beautiful year-round. We have been fortunate enough to work with them on several occasions. They created a wheelchair accessible picnic area by the Speyside Way which we look forward to visiting again in the warmer weather, they designed and installed a set of amazing craft panels to line our garden fences, forming a wonderful spot for an outdoor cuppa at the homes, and they arranged for us to participate in Buckie’s Jubilee celebrations, with one of our residents – Janet – being Queen for a day.
“We have plans for residents to join them and take part in some of their gardening projects in 2023. We have so much to be grateful to them for.”
Buckie's Roots volunteers were on hand at the event to not only encourage the brave souls taking part but also circulate with collection buckets.
The group's chairwoman Meg Jamieson said: "We were absolutely delighted when Nicola came to us with this idea.
"Nicola and Parklands Burnbank residents and staff have been fantastic supporters of Buckie's Roots.
"Buckie' s Roots and Dave the Chef had the easy job for once as those brave souls ran into the freezing Moray Firth. We only had to take photos, time them in the water and Dave made the hot chocolate and mulled wine.
"This is how Buckie does things for the community. Over the Christmas period Buckie's Roots have been involved in a three new community events (the carols in the square with the community choir, the tractor run with the Buckie Rotary and the Boxing Day dook with Nicola and Parklands Burnbank) and it’s fantastic to see folk get together to organise free events which everyone can enjoy.
"Well done all, you're a credit to oor toon."
To find out more about Buckie's Roots, including how to become part of the volunteer team follow their Facebook page.
