News / Disability charity’s survival in the balance
HARDY volunteers for Disability Shetland are hoping to raise £10,000 this summer to secure the popular charity’s survival.
On Friday, in deteriorating weather conditions, they completed a 10 mile row in an open boat from Nesting to Lerwick, as part of their 100 mile fundraising challenge.
During the last few days Sandy and Sheila Peterson, along with other volunteers, have walked, cycled and rowed to visit all the clubs the charity operates across the isles.
Disability Shetland aims to help disabled people across the isles realise their full potential in all areas of life.
Sandy Peterson said that cuts in funding from other bodies meant that his fund raising efforts were now crucial for the survival of the charity.
He said £16,000 worth of funding from the BBC Children in Need charity was most welcome, but was not enough to keep the organisation going.
“I’d like to raise £10,000 for Disability Shetland during the summer. We got a few big donations in as well. That is my ambition,” he said.
In May £3,000 was raised when volunteers pushed 12 year old Ryan Brannan up Fitful Head in his wheelchair so he could enjoy the view from one of Shetland’s highest hills.
Peterson hopes that a similar amount of money will have been raised the latest challenge.
“Because of the funding situation with so many charities this is now a question of survival,” he said.
“This money will help us to get along. We have bids in here and there, but we absolutely need this money just to keep our clubs going for the children and adults that we work with.”
Donations can be made via the Disability Shetland website at http://www.disabilityshetland.com/donate or by handing in money to their offices at Market House, in Lerwick
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