Keith rallies round family's joint effort for Breast Cancer Now – raising nearly £19,000
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A JOINT fundraising effort by a Keith woman and her nephew has raised nearly £19,000 for a breast cancer charity.
Six-year-old bike fanatic Lewis Mackay and his aunt, seasoned fundraiser Trisha Davidson, were over the moon after all donations were totted up last week for their bids to boost the charity, Breast Cancer Now.
Trisha's popular annual strawberry tea at Netherton Farm, on the outskirts of Keith, was called off this year due to coronavirus. Instead she ran a substitute strawberry tea delivery service, which raised more than £10,000 of the total.
Young Lewis, of Keith's Fife Avenue, set out to help his aunt through a charity bike ride, originally aiming to raise £250 by covering 100 miles in June.
He never imagined that he'd end up riding 200 miles and smashing his target many times over by raising more than £8000 – becoming a local star along the way.
Lewis was joined by dad Kyle and mum Lisa, grannies, grandas, uncles and aunties for the final leg of his cycle from Keith out to Netherton Farm on June 28. Locals lined the streets of Keith to cheer on the youngster and North East Police Division officers ensured a safe passage for the riders by slowing traffic along the A96 to the farm.
Lewis said afterwards it was "the best day ever".
As the final total was confirmed as £18,810 last week, Trisha said: "It's an incredible amount – especially with the pandemic situation. We never expected to reach our highest ever total.
"The support Lewis had on the last day of his bike ride was absolutely brilliant. I think it also gave the community something to smile about in worrying times, and maybe even encouraged others to get out on their bikes."
Trisha, who has now raised £46,000 over the past 11 years for Breast Cancer Now, thanked the local community for getting behind the cause and gave special thanks to "wee champ" Lewis.
