Try-ing to raise funds
Rugby-themed fundraiser
A group of east Perthshire ladies has embarked on a unique project to raise funds for a charity which supports people affected by motor neurone disease (MND).
Rugby fans Jayne Lamont, Pam GuthrieDawber, Rona Forbes and Kirsty Mundell will be upholstering a chair using rugby shirts, which is to be auctioned off later in the year along with various other items to raise money for My Name’5 Doddie charity – set up by former Scotland international and MND awareness campaigner Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2017.
Blairgowrie RFC is also set to benefit from proceeds raised during the campaign as another chair using the local club’s shirts has been created, which is also to be sold off.
Jayne, who lives just outside Rattray, said the idea initially came about after reading about the impact of living with condition on the ‘Mummy with MND’ Facebook page, run by a friend of a friend.
She explained: “We’ve re-covered a chair with shirts that have been worn by members of Blairgowrie Rugby Club and others to raise funds for the club and for Doddie Weir’s MND charity MyName’5 Doddie at the same time.
“We are now going to strip back and reupholster another chair with shirts from as many clubs as we can which will then be auctioned along with various other items such as fabric rugby balls and giraffes – Doddie’s nickname – which have been made from the leftover fabric.
“We’ve had lots of donations of shirts for the chair and are hoping to incorporate all the teams Doddie has played for over the years.
“The SRU and Blairgowrie Rugby Club, as well as many others, have been really supportive of Doddie’s charity and we just want to do something to help raise funds for more research in to MND and awareness of the condition.
“We’re hoping to get the chair to Murrayfield and have it on display there before selling it at auction.”
Jayne explained it is hoped a dinner dance would be held later in the year, potentially in November, with an online auction set up in the week leading up to big night itself to allow people to bid for the lots and raise money for the good cause.
She added: “We’ve had a lot of support – I think people are always keen to get involved as soon as they hear Doddie’s name because he’s such a popular figure in Scottish rugby.
“We’d like to thank everyone who donated shirts and all the guys at Blairgowrie RFC who have gone out of their way to accommodate all our requests.”
Blairgowrie RFC president, Mark Reddin, said: “The club is really keen to raise as much money as we can in support of the ladies’ efforts and will put our heads together on the best way to do that.”