Cancer charity is the focus for calendar fundraisers
A group of volunteers from the healthcare field and beyond in Mid Argyll got together last Friday for the official handover of their fundraising 2023 calendar.
The team of volunteers led by Carys MacFarlane, who got behind the idea of a fundraising calendar for Macmillan Cancer Support, were delighted to receive the calendar outside the Mid Argyll Hospital, where several of the volunteers work.
It was brought to them with the help of Aileen Gillies, who works at Argyll Pharmacy in Lochgilphead and has made her name during the past two years creating multiple calendars and raising thousands for charity.
The calendar, Our Caring Community, has pictures of a range of businesses in Mid Argyll, as well as emergency services personnel - a nod to those serving in key industries during the pandemic.
Carys said: ‘We wanted to highlight the businesses that have kept going and providing local services during the past two and a half years.
‘There are a lot of people from Mid Argyll featured in the calendar, and that is one of the things we think is nice about it, that people buying it here are likely to know someone who is in it.’
Carys and volunteers were grateful to Aileen for helping make the calendar a reality through her photography skills. ‘We want to mention Aileen, too, for her efforts on her lunch hour and after work in all weathers, and working around cancellations – without her our calendar wouldn’t have been possible.’
Cathy Robertson, a Macmillan volunteer for more than 20 years, said: ‘Macmillan provides a lot of different services to people across Argyll.
‘Any money raised stays here in Argyll, to allow Macmillan to provide services in the area.
‘We would like to thank the people of Mid Argyll and beyond for their amazing support and generosity down the years.’
The calendar is on sale in several places in Mid Argyll, including McColl’s and Johnny Law’s in Ardrishaig, as well as the Riverside Filling Station, Argyll Pharmacy, and the MS Centre in Lochgilphead.
Lochgilphead’s Macmillan Cancer Support group is also holding a music night fundraiser in the Grey Gull, Ardrishaig, on Saturday, November 12, where the Easy Four will be playing from 9pm till late.