Kirriemuir’s Relay for Life raised an incredible £182,670 for Cancer Research UK beating 2009’s record sum by nearly £10,000.
A cheque was presented to the charity during a ceremony at Webster’s High School on Sunday, attended by team members, cancer survivors and event sponsors.
Committee volunteer chairman Keith Hopkins said: ”What an absolutely fantastic result. The little town of Kirriemuir has a very, very big heart as proved yet again by the superb amount raised by local people, businesses and organisations to support Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”
Mr Hopkins said the total had been raised through a variety of means, including sponsorship, registration fees, the teams’ fundraising efforts, donations and the sale of candle bags for the Candle Of Hope ceremony and balloons for the balloon race.
”With almost £135,000 of our total raised by the donation of 4,473 donation bags containing unwanted clothes and household goods, there must be an incredible amount of extra cupboard and wardrobe space in Kirriemuir at the moment,” he joked.
Louise Robertson of Cancer Research UK, who was presented with the cheque, said: ”I’m overwhelmed and inspired by the outstanding contribution the community of Kirriemuir has made to Cancer Research UK and our lifesaving research.
”A huge congratulations to the committee for organising a fantastic event, the teams for all their hard work with fundraising over the last year, the survivors for supporting the event and emphasising our true vision of hope, the sponsors for their support and all those who volunteered over the year and at the event.
”This amazing achievement would not be possible without a real community team effort to make it happen.”
Mr Hopkins thanked everyone involved on behalf of the committee.
”In addition, we’d like to express our gratitude to the Aitken family for allowing us to hold the Relay For Life on their land, everyone who contributed to the entertainment during the event and all those who attended the Relay For Life Disco and the many, many fundraising events held by teams throughout 2011,” he said.
”This was Kirriemuir’s third Relay For Life and, following yet another highly successful event, we are delighted to confirm that the next Kirrie Relay For Life will take place in summer 2013.”
Teams of between eight to 15 people, of all ages, levels of fitness and from all walks of life, are needed to volunteer for the next event.
Visit cancerresearchuk.org/relay for more information.