Keith Kilt and Textile Centre's face coverings helping fund coronavirus research
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FACE coverings sold by Keith Kilt and Textile Centre are helping raise money for coronavirus research.
Around 50 per cent of takings from each mask sold by the centre will be going to the University of Oxford Development Trust, who are trying to create a covid-19 vaccine.
Masks are being sold at £5 each, with nearly 500 having been purchased so far – allowing chairwoman Linda Gorn and her team to donate £1250 to the cause.
Mrs Gorn said: "We are only charging a fiver for the face coverings and half of that is going to coronavirus research.
"It's a very community-spirited thing, if we can make the coverings and contribute to the research, too, then that's great.
"Keith is just a small place but we are helping combat the virus. Every little helps."
The idea to donate £2.50 per mask came from 11-year-old Alistair McIllop, from Keith, whose mum is involved at the centre.
Mrs Gorn added: "When I was starting to make the masks, early on, I thought I had to do something to stop the virus getting a hold.
"We didn't want to rip people off price-wise because it's not something people usually have to pay for.
"So Alistair came up with the idea of putting some of the proceeds towards coronavirus research.
"He might only be 11 years old but he is very focused on how you make money. He's just a very clever wee boy."
There was a breakthrough last week, with research showing that a vaccine being developed at Oxford University is showing a strong immune response.
