Banff memorial football game raises more than £7k for mental health charity
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A charity football game held in Banff to remember five men who took their own lives raised more than £7700 for mental health support services.
The match saw Auld Banff Rovers take on Macduff United in memory of Euan Christie, Roy Johnston, Gary Hendry, Zander MacKintosh and Declan Ewen, who all played for Rovers over the years.
A large crowd, including the mens' family and friends, attended at Canal Park to watch the game and back the event.
Special guest was Aberdeen FC legend Joe Harper who also gave his support.
Following the match a raffle and post match drinks were held in The Railway Inn.
The total raised at the event and through the online JustGiving page is sitting at £7714.
All the money raised is going to Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
The match organisers said: "A huge thank you to everyone who helped to organise the event, attended the match whether to play or spectate, and helped to sell, buy or donated raffles.
"There were so many donations and huge generosity from the local community and businesses.
"The current total stands at over £7000, which is amazing and so very much appreciated for SAMH."
They previously said: "We are fund raising for SAMH in memory of these five lads whose lives all sadly ended far too soon, due to poor mental health and them feeling they could not go on.
"These were five much loved lads and are sorely missed by friends and family.
"All these lads at one time played football for the local Banff Rovers football team.
"The SAMH have many wonderful services within Aberdeenshire and Scotland and if the money we make can help just one person be able to ask for help it’s worth it all."
SAMH operates more than 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others.
Together with national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, and physical activity and sport, these services inform the charity's policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.
Its work in Aberdeenshire includes working in partnership with stakeholders throughout the region and in Aberdeen to promote suicide prevention and build suicide-safer communities.
It also works with people who have significant and complex mental illnesses to achieve personal outcomes which promote sustainable resilience and independent living skills.
Visit www.samh.org.uk for more information about the charity and its services.
