Funds bid aided by snap decision
Calendar will raise cash for audio book
A calendar goes on sale tomorrow (Thursday) as part of a communitywide bid to fund a new audio-book for blind and partially sighted people.
It will feature pictures taken by members of Bannockburn Study Group’s photography and multimedia project.
John Reilly sparked the fundraising bid when he mentioned to fellow members of the project details of the fundraising drive for Talking Books in which he had already been active.
“I was telling our tutor Colleen Blyth and the class and they decided that they would like to get involved too,” said John.
“Colleen tasked each student with taking a variety of photos throughout the summer with the intention of putting together a calendar. The photos are accompanied by a variety of Japanese poems throughout.”
Earlier this year, John and fellow Stirling resident Janette Scott organised a bake sale and raffle, secured a donation from Waitrose, and arranged a fundraising disco at the town’s Anchor Inn.
Money raised allowed the sight loss charity RNIB to add to its Talking Books library a children’s title by the awardwinning Scottish author Pamela Butchart.
Colleen, Janette and John will host the calendar launch event tomorrow from 6.30pm-8pm at Bannockburn Library. The evening will also celebrate and promote the pleasure of reading. A suggested minimum donation for calendars is £3. All donations received will go to the Stirling Community Talking Books initiative.
Angela Preston, fundraising manager for RNIB Scotland, said: “This Christmas, many -even most - of us will get as a present a book we really want. But for blind and partially sighted people, the choice will be much more limited. That’s why it’s wonderful that Stirling is coming together as a community to make sure another title is available.
“All of RNIB’s Talking Books are professionally narrated and recorded in a studio, and are lent out free to people with sight loss.”
To reserve a calendar, or if you would be happy to stock some for people to take for a donation, contact Angela on 0131 652 3169 or email angela.preston@rnib. org.uk.