Jags bring cash cheer for Buckie care homes
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RESIDENTS at three Buckie care homes will have even more reason to cheer on Buckie Thistle this season.
Kind-hearted players and officials from the Highland League team have raised over £3400 thanks to their exertions during a 24-hour run, with Parklands and Burnbank care homes and Netherha care home among the local beneficiaries.
The players, coaches and management team clocked up an impressive 312 km (almost 200 miles) over 24 hours.
Resident Lenny Marshall, a former Buckie Thistle goalkeeper, and shift leader Louise Gillies, looked on as player Callum Murray dropped into Parklands and Burnbank care homes to present their cheque.
Meanwhile, lifelong fan Willie Wood, who prior to the lockdown was still a regular at Victoria Park, cheered on Buckie Thistle FC coach Iain Macrae as he presented the cheque to Netherha Care Home.
The money will be donated to the residents’ comfort fund which helps pay for entertainment and trips into the local community, once they can safely resume.
Buckie Cancer Link, Buckie Salvation Army and Friends of Seafield Hospital will also receive £688 each.
Ruth Smith, manager of Netherha care home, said: “It was so kind of the team to make this donation to our residents.
"Many of our residents have fond memories of supporting Buckie Thistle down the years and we really appreciate this wonderful gesture.”
Behind the charity fund-raiser was Jags defender Hamish Munro, who came up with the idea of the Buckie boys running a total of 319km, the distance between Thistle's Victoria Park ground and the Hampden Park national stadium. They each had an hour to complete as many kilometres as possible
There was a very personal inspiration behind Munro's efforts – his dad Donnie, a loyal Buckie fan over the years, suffered a stroke several weeks ago, but is making some progress on the road to recovery.
He said: "It’s all local causes that we’ve done this for and great that we’ve got to give something back."
Munro himself managed a run of 12.66km, marking its successful completion at Spey Bay by running into the sea for a cooling dip and his wife and children looked on.
Club captain Kevin Fraser proved himself to be the star runner of the show, clocking up 14.7km in his hour at 4am in Inverness. First off was young striker Marcus Goodall, going for 13.43km before youngster Fergus Edwards clocked up an impressive 14.63km.
Local lad Shaun Wood hit the road for 14.39km, while both Sam Urquhart and Craig Cowie beat the 14km mark.
The last runner was defender Sam Morrison, with his effort bringing the Jags total to just over 312km, just short of their target.
It was not just the players who did their bit, though. Manager Graeme Stewart and many of his coaching staff also donned their running shoes, including former player Stephen Bruce who ran 11.73km in the humidity of Houston, Texas, where he is based with his job.
Assistant manager Lewis MacKinnon was not able run as he pulled his calf while training, but still managed to do an hour on a spinning bike to offer his own contribution to the cause.
Director of football Graeme Tallis did a half-hour while his son Jordan ran a 10k in his hour, and daughter Taylor also took part in the run.
More sports news here.
