Home and Away bid to raise cash

A north-east homelessness charity has launched a virtual fitness fundraiser to help pay for its vital work.

Aberdeen Cyrenians, which supports people who are without homes, fleeing violence, coping with mental health issues or facing crisis in other ways, is tasking teams to travel 555 miles up until September for its Home and Away challenge.

Bryony Shepherd, community and events fundraiser for Aberdeen Cyrenians, said: “I think we’ve all missed playing and watching sport since lockdown, and our Home and Away challenge is designed to allow people to come together and feel part of a team again.

“We want people to have that sense of camaraderie they would have if they were training or working together.”

So far, more than £1,000 has been raised thanks to the challenge and accompanying appeal.

The 555-mile target was designed to replicate travelling from Pittodrie to 12 other Scottish Premiership stadiums and back again.

Ms Shepherd added: “We’ve been so heartened to have people reach out to us and decide to take on an individual 55.5-mile challenge instead, or those who have decided to donate the cost of a ticket or a round of drinks at the football to support us.

“All sponsorship money raised will go directly towards funding our frontline service supporting people who are homeless, without a fixed address, in crisis, or suffering with addiction and mental health challenges.”

To find out more about the challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/ campaign/homeaway