Tea helps to revive Oxygen after bad flooding

A serial fundraiser combined tea and sympathy to come to the aid of an Inverness charity that was hit by a devastating flood.

Seonag Anderson rallied a troop of volunteers to make home-made afternoon teas in support of The Oxygen Works after burst pipes left it facing damage costing tens of thousands of pounds and delayed re-opening plans.

The Oxygen Works uses oxygen therapy and other treatments to help people with a variety of conditions including multiple sclerosis, cancer, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

Mrs Anderson said: “I thought if we could do 50 teas it would raise a few hundred pounds.”

However, the response meant she oversaw a Covidcompliant operation that prepared 200 teas for collection or delivery, with more than £2,000 being raised for the charity.

Mrs Anderson, Royal National Mod officer for An Commun Gaidhealach, said: “It just escalated with people buying not just for themselves but paying it forward to send to other people, including relatives they have not seen for a year now.

“Everyone was very generous. It lifted the spirits and gave people something to focus on.”

She plans a further project later in the year for the charities Mikeysline and James’ Support Group.

Oxygen Works chief executive Leigh-Ann Little said: “As well as being hugely grateful, I am in complete awe of Seonag and her team who helped with the afternoon teas.

“To put that into perspective, £2,000 will fund our oxygen for around a month which will allow over 100 people to benefit from this unique and effective therapy.”