Ardgay soup and sweet is Poppy Pledge fundraiser in memory of Rhona
A SOUP and sweet lunch was the latest fundraising initiative to be organised by an enterprising Sutherland family.
Rene Knott, of Gledfield, and her extended family have taken the Poppy Pledge - to raise £1921 in 2021 for Poppyscotland in its centenary year.
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4 / 4They are doing so in memory of Rene’s sister Rhona MacFarlane of Ardgay, who was killed in a road accident in 2019.
Rhona was a Poppy Appeal volunteer for more than 30 years and the poppy was her favourite flower.
The family’s first challenge was a 15-mile cycle ride as part of the April Kiltwalk weekend.
Since then they have sold squares to win a soft toy and £100, held a table top garden sale, and attended a car boot sale as well as receiving donations.
In addition, Rebecca Knott and her partner Robert Ives walked the Deeside way and Alison Macinnes ran a half marathon on October 10 - Rhona’s birthday.
Poppyscotland’s north of Scotland regional fundraising coordinator Frances Beveridge rolled up her sleeves and helped out at the soup and sweet event in Ardgay Hall on October 16, as did Rene’s husband Bill, their grandchildren and a family friend Lesley Macleay.
Mrs Knott said: “We had a super raffle to which lots of local businesses and individuals donated prizes. We also had two sales tables, one of baking and one of knitted items.
“The soup and sweet was really well-attended and we raised the magnificent sum of £1320.”
The family’s fundraising total now stands at an amazing £7413 and they are not finished yet.
Mrs Knott said: “The pledge ends on November 11 and we have a couple more fundraisers planned before then.
“We can not thank everyone enough for all their support, it has been overwhelming.”