All set for lots of exciting silent auction action
Annual appeal to benefit lots of good causes
Club president David Lindsay, Kinfauns RDA coach Angie Welch, Rotarian Laura McCallum, RDA volunteers Stuart Brown, Karen Brown and Rotarian Ewan Bannerman It has become an annual fixture on the calendar and the Perth Silent Auction is once again promising LOTS of fun.
Since 2006, the area’s favourite fundraiser – a joint venture between the Perthshire Advertiser and the Rotary Club of Perth – has generated more than £270,000 for good causes at home and abroad.
This year, the major beneficiaries will be the Cornhill Macmillan Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary, Kinfauns Stables Riding for the Disabled and The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Appeal.
The RDA arena on the outskirts of Perth was set-up by businessman and former St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown and the converted farm building was officially opened by the Princess Royal a year ago, providing a Royal seal of approval for a centre which is enhancing the quality of life of individuals of all ages, and their families.
Mr Brown said: “It is fantastic that Kinfauns Stables RDA has been selected as one of the charities being supported by this year’s Perth Silent Auction.
“We are grateful to the PA and the Rotary Club of Perth for selecting us given the many fine causes that are vying for support across Perth and Kinross.
“The backing of the Perth Silent Auction will help enormously with our work, which relies upon support from businesses and generous individuals.
“Dozens of dedicated volunteers provide invaluable support on a daily basis to around 500 monthly riders, ranging from disabled youngsters and autistic kids to rookie riders in their 80s.”
The ARCHIE Foundation is the official charity of Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells and is raising £2 million towards a new children’s twin theatre operating suite which will transform the experience of children who need operations in Tayside.
The new suite will double the current operating capacity and all planned paediatric surgical procedures, including dental, will happen in fantastic new facilities that will match the wonderful clinical care delivered by the NHS Tayside Paediatrics team. From preoperative care through to surgery and recovery, the new unit will be bright, spacious and child-friendly with indoor and outdoor play spaces.
Emma White, head of fundraising for The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Perth Rotary Club has chosen to support our Tayside Children’s Hospital Appeal for a brand-new twin operating theatre suite as part of their incredible annual event, the Perth Silent Auction.”
Perth Silent Auction has been supporting the work of PRI’s Cornhill Macmillan Centre, a joint partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support and NHS Tayside, since before it opened its doors in 2009. Initially, the Silent Auction helped towards building costs.
The £3.75 million centre acts as a hub for specialist palliative care for inpatients, out-patients and patients in Perth Royal Infirmary with cancer and other life-limiting conditions.
Dr Claire Douglas, consultant in Palliative Medicine, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Perth for their ongoing support in allowing us to provide education to GPs within Perth and Kinross, so that more people within the community have their palliative care needs recognised and supported.
“This fits very well within the vision of the newly formed Tayside Macmillan Palliative and End of Life Care Network and the vision of the Scottish Government that ‘by 2012 everyone in Scotland who needs palliative care will have access to it.’”
Taking part in the Perth Silent Auction, as a donor of lots or as a bidder, couldn’t be simpler.
Just log on to www.perthsilentauction. co.uk and follow the simple instructions on the home page to register. If you registered before simply log on using your previous username and password.
Once registered, PA readers can check out the fantastic range of lots donated by hundreds of generous local businesses.
PA Editor Johnathon Menzies said: “Since the Silent Auction started in 2006, we’ve raised £270,659 for good causes throughout Perth and Kinross and further afield.
“I’m delighted this year’s event is again supporting Cornhill. It is a very worthy local organisation which relies heavily on local fundraising. The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Appeal will also benefit hundreds of families across Perth and Kinross.
“The PA has been following the progress of the Kinfauns Stables RDA since it opened last year and it is a tremendous facility which is making a real difference to disabled and autistic youngsters in particular.”
“As ever, the business community is rallying round. Hundreds of lots have already been donated to the Silent Auction and I’m sure many more will follow.
“I would encourage PA readers to log on to www.perthsilentauction.co.uk and check out the full list of lots which grow on a daily basis.”
Rotarian David Lindsay, President of the Rotary Club of Perth and Perth Silent Auction co-ordinator, continued: “It’s that time of year again and we are looking forward to another successful fundraiser.
“I ask all local businesses to consider making a donation. As ever, the busy Perth Silent Auction website and extensive PA coverage provide a profile for generous donors and at the same time buyers are always keen to take advantage of the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts, one-off experiences, and many other fantastic items. The fact that all money received goes to deserving local charities makes it even more worthwhile.”
This year’s Perth Silent Auction finishes on Saturday, December 2.
As in past years the lots will be sold at one minute intervals throughout the day.
Selling will commence at 10am.