Friday, 30 August 2013

FINAL COUNTDOWN TO 'BEAT THE BORDERS'


THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
just 24 hours to go ...

A FIRST HAND VIEW OF THE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE WORK BEING DONE BY OUR DESIGNATED CHARITY - CHAS

SPAA Secretary Janice Hogarth this week visited the charity's Robin House this week. Here's her report …

It's perhaps too easy, in these days of ever-increasing demands on our time and resources, to become cynical. So it's timely and humbling to be reminded just occasionally of the insight, commitment and unselfish hard work poured into a haven such as Robin House - not to mention the huge and unending financial investment it demands. Robin House exemplifies Children's Hospice Association Scotland's mission - providing Scotland's only hospice services for our children and young people who have life shortening conditions, and their families.

Is Robin House a serious place? Yes, in terms of its day to day work it is, offering not just patient and family respite care, but also really forward-looking activities - like the beautiful swimming pool that affords deeply physically challenged kids the rare opportunity to have a proper hug with a parent, or the 'light show' apparatus that allows very sick youngsters mental and emotional stimulation, and some simple fun, in their very restricted lives. So, is this haven of peace and support a happy place? Absolutely, and the 500+ kids, young people and family members who are helped by CHAS each year will attest to just how much Robin House, Rachel House and the charity's home outreach support mean to them.

My abiding memory of my visit is of the total commitment of the staff - wreathed in genuine smiles for all, and the response of the kids and families, for whom CHAS provides empathetic and insightful care at the most challenging time of their lives. And my message from my visit is a simple one. Of course, we all have seemingly endless calls on our generosity - but this call is from close to home; it's heartfelt and the cause is the worthiest you will ever encounter. Please dig deep!

LET'S ALL GET BEHIND TIM AS HE 'BEATS THE BORDERS' TO SUPPORT THIS VITAL ORGANISATION!

Can he 'Beat the Borders'? Yes, he can! Our very own Tim Roulston will participate in this gruelling challenge, raising money for CHAS with every mile he cycles and runs. Tim will take part in the 12-hour activity event in the Scottish Borders TOMORROW - Saturday 31 August. He'll take on the challenge by bike and on foot, with the objective of completing the 58 mile Gold Route. He's been in serious training and he's looking for YOUR support - so please dig deep and donate on his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/spaa.

Best of luck to Tim - who's rising to the challenge selflessly and solely in support of this really worthy cause - and sincere thanks to YOU for your vital contribution!

our target ...

... let's get the total up to £1,500 by 5.00pm tomorrow!

visit www.justgiving.com/spaa and please give generously!

Janice Hogarth
SPAA Secretary
30 August 2013

Friday, 23 August 2013

AN ENJOYABLE + CHALLENGING ANNUAL GOLF DAY AT DUNDONALD LINKS!


It turned out to be a great event - as always - with 8 competitive teams in contention for the honours. Dundonald Links being a relatively new, American-designed course, it was the first outing on it for many of the golfers, and by all accounts it proved a challenging, but enjoyable 18 holes. The event this year was co-ordinated with the help of GolfKings, and generously sponsored by the golf specialist, Travelport, Tourism Ireland and Turkish Airlines.

The full team list was :

TEAM 1 : Tom Blair (Glen Travel), Frank Docherty (GolfKings), Alan Glen, Douglas Glen

TEAM 2 : Gordon McCreadie (Travel 2), Brian Potter (Clyde Travel), John Semple (GolfKings)

TEAM 3 : Douglas McCarthy, Ken McLeod (Advantage), Dave Rivers, Ian Scott

TEAM 4 : Graeme Cuthbertson (Costwatchers), Tony Hollis (Amadeus), Craig Patterson (Stewart Travel), Grant Smith (Amadeus)

TEAM 5 : Hjorvar Hoganson (Icelandair), Peter O'Mara (Aer Arann), Chris Tames, Paul White (Glasgow Airport)

TEAM 6 : Ryan Carroll (Hoseasons), Danny Giles (Hurtigruten), Linda McDonald (RSSC), Mark O'Neill (Gold Medal)

TEAM 7 : Colin Currie (Travel 2), Craig Davidson (FlexiTrips), John Dougherty (Arnold Fisher)

TEAM 8 : Warren Baillie, Matt Conway, Paul Jarvie, Ian Stapleton (all FCm) 

And the Winners were :

JAMES ROBERTSON TROPHY : Frank Docherty
Runner-up : Matt Conway
3rd Place : Peter O'Mara

TEAM PRIZE : TEAM 1

LADIES' PRIZE : Linda McDonald

NEAREST THE PIN : Douglas Glen

LONGEST DRIVE : Craig Patterson

WOODEN SPOON : Hjorvar Hoganson

Visit the Gallery above (home page) for all the pictures, and there'll be a full report, too, in the new edition of SPAA Today, out at the weekend and downloadable above (home page).

MTB 23/08/13