Memory of Portsoy man inspires friends to raise £10k
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A group of friends has raised more than £10,000 for charity in memory of a Portsoy man who died in a road accident in America.
Andrew Stuart (34) had been working in the US when he was killed in the incident on March 13 last year in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Since his death family and friends have raised more than £21,000 for the Charlie House charity.
His friends Charlene Gallon, Lynn Laing, Ashley Lovie, Gemma McHardy, Nicole Reid and Antonia Wood, have added £10,666.73 to that total after holding A Day at the Races event at the Deveronside Community Social Club.
Mrs Gallon, who spoke on behalf of the friends, said: "After losing our dear friend Andrew Stuart, Bu, last year, we decided to organise A Day at the Races in his memory, in support of Charlie House – a charity close to his heart.
"In 2017 Bu took part in a charity boxing match for Charlie house and raised £4,458.73
"Since then a further £21,132.48 has been raised in his memory through funeral donations and further fundraising by family and friends.
"We decided that we wanted to add to that total and do something positive in his memory, and that's where A Day at the Races began.
"Through our Just Giving page; selling lucky squares for a chance to win an Apple Watch; horse racing; raffle ticket sales; various games on the day; sponsorship money and a silent auction for a hospitality day at Aberdeen Football Club, we raised a staggering £10,666.73.
"Charlie House is an amazing charity, and will be a huge asset to the north-east for families with children with life limiting conditions, and we are very proud that we have been able to add to that much needed total
"We are overwhelmed with everyone's generosity and could not have done it without everyone's support."
Mr Stuart was a former Banff Academy pupil and had been employed as a managing director of a global business data protection company in America.
Charlie House is based in the north-east of Scotland and supports babies, young people and their families who have one of more than 600 different conditions that can be deemed as life-limiting – a condition having no cure and potentially shortening the child’s life.
There are also many undiagnosed and unique conditions and syndromes that also cause severe disability, multiple complex needs and can potentially shorten a child’s life, which the charity supports.
Its main goal has been to build a a purpose-built facility in Aberdeen to support families in the region and has launched its Big Build Appeal, which is looking to raise £8 million for the centre to be located within Woodend Hospital.
