Huntly woman who has raised more than £150,000 named Rotary Club's Citizen of the Year
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A HUNTLY community champion who has raised more than £150,000 for the town has been named as the Rotary Club's Citizen of the Year.
Theresa Lee was recognised with the award on Saturday, which shows her exceptional dedication and tireless efforts to community fundraising.
Theresa, a retired advertising manager for Scottish Provincial Press and the Press and Journal, moved back to Huntly six years ago and has made a lasting impact on the town.
Her remarkable contributions include spearheading the organisation of remembrance events following the closure of the Servicemen's Club, securing £77,000 in funding for the town to install CCTV and helping to secure £25,000 for the Stewart's Hall to receive new luxury seating, along with new stage curtains.
Theresa has also helped with improvements for the Alexander Scott's hospital, which has received around £55,000 as a result of her funding grant applications, with new leather chairs, an accessible garden and the mini bus all coming from her hard work.
On her award win, Theresa said: "It's very humbling. Not often that I'm lost for words, but it was quite emotional on Saturday to receive that award. It's a very, very big honour."
"Everywhere you looked round the hall that morning, you could see volunteers. There were hundreds of them in Huntly. It's a very, very charitable town."
Theresa moved away from Huntly when she was 11, but when she retired she was keen to come back to her hometown. Since her return, she has played a pivotal role in numerous projects, due in large part to boredom. She said: "I got back as quick as I could and I've never regretted it for one second, Huntly is a fantastic place. But when I came back I found I was bored, so I offered to help the Scott's hospital with getting their minibus and it all just spiralled from there and once I got going it was good, because it gave me something to do.
"I always wanted to do stuff that related to and helped normal folk and old folk and I've replaced so many seats in the hall, that I'm definitely leaving a legacy of comfy bums in the town."
The president of Huntly Rotary Club, Katie Fairweather said: "Theresa is such a lovely lady and she is involved in so many things, almost to the extent you forget she's involved in so many things.
"She just works away quietly, she's great at getting fundraising and it was a well-deserved nomination. She has certainly put a lot into the community and is a huge part of the community so it's great to see her recognised."
As part of the award, Theresa received a trophy, flowers and £250 to donate to the charity of her choice.
Looking forward to the future, Theresa plans to continue her community involvement, including working as a guide for a castle and writing a children's book in Doric and English. She is also gearing up to learn how to swim next summer.
She added: "As I said on the day, there's been two things I've always been proud of, one is far I come fae, and two is the family I was born into, the Kennedys who were a long established family in Huntly – and this award takes third place, it's very important."
