‘Every penny stays here’ Fundraising: Charity denies cash goes south

A charity has reassured donors and patients that cash raised in the north stays in the north to support users.

The Oxygen Works, formerly known as the Inverness Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Centre, says it works with people from all over the Highlands and islands, and every penny given to them stays with the charity.

The assurance was given in response to concerns from an Inverness man setting up a fund because he feels some money for

“We have clients from across the Highlands and islands”

research into the disease ends up going south.

But Leigh-Ann Little, manager of the Oxygen Works, said that did not apply to them and all cash given to the charity stays in the city to support users of the facilities.

Leigh-Ann said: “While we now welcome people living throughout the Scottish Highlands with a broad range of health concerns, we are proud to be able to provide support to our largest cohort of members who are living with MS.

“We work tirelessly to raise funds to continue providing support to these individuals as well as ensuring we can offer support to others living within our community with health problems.

“Every penny donated to The Oxygen Works is utilised to maintain and improve the services we offer for the community.

“I would be the first to recognise there is much more to be done to meet demand of an area which has one of the highest incidence rates of MS in the world.

“However, we have clients who travel from across the Highlands and islands to access the services provided by our centre which I think is testament to the quality of support we provide.

“Not to mention the work undertaken by other charities with a firm focus on MS and neurological conditions based in Scotland.

“While we are not affiliated or linked with any other charity, I am aware there are branches of the MS Society located throughout the north of Scotland and I believe that the monies raised through each branch remains with that branch; which provides much needed support, advice, funding and social opportunities for many people living with MS. “

Solicitor Kenneth MacLeod clarified his charity would focus on keeping research cash in the north of Scotland, rather than have it sent to English institutions for research.

He said: “The majority of MS sufferers are in the north, and it should be our universities and hospital who keep the research cash.” various

Photographs by Sandy McCook HELPING: Beth Anderson, deputy manager of The Oxygen Works, and users in the centre’s hyperbaric chamber.