Mechanics supporter donates £3500
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A LOCAL boy has done more good by giving nearly £3500 to worthy causes.
Forres loon Ian Wood, donated £800 each to Forres Mechanics Youth Development (FMYD), Forres and District Pipe Band and MGF Widows and Orphans International, and £500 each to Macmillan Cancer Support and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
He said: "The Cans are the only football team I've supported all my life. Charlie Brown and the other coaches there do phenomenal work. Once young people in Forres are too old for Soccer Sevens, there is little or no organised football for their development. As far as I know there are no longer teams at all of the schools so Mechanics offer development opportunities not available elsewhere. I want to support this as much as possible.
"The pipe band is a massive asset to the town that's been at every big event here. It promotes Forres so it's only right that I try to help them too."
FMYD co-ordinator Dave McCartney is grateful for the ongoing support.
He said: "The money will be used to buy footballs and training equipment and we are thrilled to receive it. Ian is always tremendously supportive and has helped us in the past in so many ways."
Pipe Band chairman John Channon will use the funding towards drums for the junior band.
He said: "It was a huge and unexpected surprise to receive the cheque and we are honoured that he saw fit to make the donation to us. We extend a permanent invitation for him to attend our main band practice on a Sunday and to show him how our youth programme is progressing as a result of his donation.
"We are most grateful for Ian’s thoughtful donation and are incredibly impressed with the number of steps he achieved duration his fund raising activity - we wonder how he kept count !"
Following a triple heart bypass on March 21, 2017, Ian set himself the task of walking five million steps over a year from the same date in 2018, raising sponsorship along the way He exceeded the target in March this year.
He said: "I got a second chance at having a full and active life after the surgery. I wanted to get fitter and healthier to support people close to my now fully functioning heart.
"The challenge was to do 14,000 steps-a-day which is around 6.5 miles-a-day. It was a struggle as I usually drive everywhere but I actually walked a total of 5,511, 832 steps!
"As well as the Forres organisations, I gave money to Vic Cameron's church at Lhanbryde which funds a feeding station in India through the Widows and Orphans charity. Its water supply had dried up so I funded a new bore hole and pump for them - the funds I donated covered the work that was required."
He added: "Please email vic.cameron2803@btinternet.com for information on supporting the charity. Just £15-a-month, or 50p-a-day, will help orphans there."
