Mum left speechless as son hands over Christies of Fochabers car prize
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THE winner of a local garden centre's car competition has handed over the keys for the new vehicle to his mum.
And Christies of Fochabers' winter car competition spread further Christmas cheer by boosting north-east children's charity Charlie House by £17,000.
The staff at Christies congratulated the car winner, Derek Adam, a former "local loon" who now lives in Kemnay.
Derek's mum, Marjory Adam, from Fochabers, originally bought him the winning ticket. She was left speechless when her son handed her the keys for the Vauxhall Adam at the prize presentation earlier this month.
The garden centre has backed Charlie House throughout 2020. The charity supports babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions, and their families, in Moray and the wider north-east.
The competition also marked Christies' 200th anniversary.
Christine Christie, company director, said the money raised will go towards the charity's long-term vision to build a children’s hospice in Aberdeen.
Christine said: "We are extremely grateful to the public because without their generosity we would never have achieved this remarkable amount.
"Due to Covid the garden centre wasn’t able to carry out any of the plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary, but were determined to go ahead with the car competition as we were able to do this in line within the restrictions – and because Charlie House really need all the support they can get to achieve their plans to build a new hospice."
The draw took place on Sunday, December 6, which marked the official birthday of the company.
Derek visited Christies on Friday, December 11, to collect the keys to his new car. A representative from Charlie House also attended for the big cheque handover.
Christine added: "It was at this presentation that Derek then gifted the keys to his mum, making this a Christmas to remember."
Charlie House plans to build the £8 million, eight-bedroom hospice at Aberdeen's Woodend Hospital to provide a dedicated space and support for children and their families.
Kirsty Walker, fundraising co-ordinator for Charlie House, said the charity had suffered a 70 per cent reduction in income against the same time last year – as requests for its support services had rocketed by 84 per cent.
