Pitlochry coffee morning, hosted at The Green Park Hotel, contributed to the milestone.
A group of Highland Perthshire fundraisers for Macmillan Cancer Support has surpassed the £50,000 mark for cancer care for the first time, a milestone achieved following last week’s Pitlochry Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee morning. Attended by nearly 100 people at The Green Park Hotel, the event helped push the group’s total tally over £50,000. The coffee morning, which included a raffle and craft sales, successfully raised £4283.43 for the cause. Among the prizes donated was a special silver bangle crafted by silversmith and engraver Malcolm Appleby, MBE, who has a studio in Grandtully.
Malcolm Appleby has long been connected with the royal family. He made the orb for Prince Charles’ investiture crown in 1969 and designed a table piece for Bute House, home to Scotland’s First Minister. His silver candlesticks lit the Queen’s coffin in 2022 at St Giles’ Cathedral, and his Banchory Bangle designs annually raise thousands for the charity Children First.
A regular donor to charitable causes, Mr Appleby’s contribution, alongside items like Aberfeldy malt whiskies and giveaways from Perthshire businesses, helped the group exceed its targets. Organisers thanked the local business community and long-time hosts The Green Park Hotel for helping make a difference for cancer patients and families.
The funds will support the specialist palliative care operation at Cornhill Macmillan Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary, as well as assisting with training and the Macmillan Buddies programme.
Isi Watt, one of the 20 active Highland Perthshire Macmillan fundraisers, commented: “It is incredible to have surpassed the £50 000 mark. People, including Malcolm Appleby, are very generous when donating. Businesses support the general raffle with vouchers and season tickets, local shops donate prizes, people are very supportive.”
Fellow fundraiser Fiona Dowson added: “We do 4 events per year, but the businesses donate each time.” The annual Macmillan Coffee morning has been hosted at The Green Park Hotel for close to two decades, with the hotel providing a dining room, extensive buffet lunch, refreshments, and staff. Hotel Co-Owner Alistair McMenemie also compered the raffle.
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Fundraiser Margaret Viner, said: “Almost everyone will be touched by cancer. I think people appreciate what we do and they give generously. If you do a collection in the street, people come up and they just want to tell you their story.”
Group member Helen Evans agreed, she said: “Maybe they, themselves, have been touched by cancer or a family member, or close friend. You hear people say: *I am a survivor*. People tell us that Macmillan has helped them, so it is good to know that this is all worthwhile.”
The Green Park Hotel proprietors conveyed their happiness for the fundraising volunteers. Alistair McMenemie said: “The Macmillan Coffee Morning is now an annual highlight in the Pitlochry calendar. Doing this each year is a way of us showing pride in the community and we are delighted to support it.”
