Max hits the right note for charity
A young piper completed 100 nights of piping through lockdown to raise more than £9000 for Strathcarron Hospice.
Max Rae, a 15-year-old bagpiper with the World Champion Dollar Academy Pipe Band completed his 100th night of piping last Thursday.
He started on March 24, the day Britain entered in to lockdown and has piped nightly around his home in Bridge of Allan.
In addition, he has `surprise piped’ for some 40 birthdays and celebrations with money again being donated to the charity.
The surprise events have been done whilst observing social distancing and have covered birthdays of people aged between 4 and 90, anniversaries, including a diamond wedding, and two events on the day that couples had been due to marry but were forced to cancel.
Max has also piped outside local nursing homes and sheltered housing for free.
Max’s proud dad John said: “We’re very proud that Max is giving his time freely each night and also piping for people’s birthdays. It’s really lovely when a fully dressed piper walks into your garden to play `Happy Birthday’ for you as well as playing some other tunes, it has also brought a lot of joy during this time.”
Dollar Academy are actively supporting Max’s charity work through their social media.
To date Max has raised over £9,000 and will continue his effort until the end of the year, hoping to raise over £12,000.
A spokesperson for Strathcarron Hospice said: “During the pandemic, our priority remains to provide specialist end of life care, love and support for all those who need us. Our traditional methods of fundraising have had to stop, however we’ve been blown away by the support from our local community, including that of Max.
“Having already raised an incredible £9,294, Max is now aiming to pay for a full day of care across all of our services, at a cost of £12,900. His support is so greatly appreciated and really will make a difference to so many people living with, and dying from, a terminal illness. Thank you, Max.”
In 2017, a then 12-year-old Max became the first person to play the bagpipes whilst `wakesurfing’.
He played the traditional Scottish instrument whilst wakesurfing during a visit to LBD Wake School in Surrey.
To donate go to https://www. strathcarronhospice. net/fundraisers/maxpipes-for-100-nights
A well known Bridge of Allan resident was able to mark her 90th birthday with a small gathering of relatives and was treated to a top bagpipe performance to mark the day.
Ann McGregor MBE celebrated the milestone birthday on June 25 at Abbeyfield Nursing Home in the town. She was joined by daughters Sheila and Gillan along with grandsons Mark and Sam to mark the day.
Piper Max Rae also made a special appearance to entertain Mrs McGregor on the big day.
Mrs McGregor was born in London, grew up in India and moved to Bridge of Allan in 1957. Daughter Sheila said:“It was the first day of the eased lockdown and the first time we had gotten to see her.
“Luckily it was a beautiful day and we could get some of the family there.
“She smiled all day long and got around 100 birthday cards.”
Max surprised her by piping along Henderson Street to the home and the family made a generous donation to his fund raising page on the Strathcarron Hospice website.
The youngster has now raised more than £9,000 by piping in the street for 100 consecutive nights throughout lockdown.