THE ARCHIE FOUNDATION

24 January 2018

Fresh ARCHIE Highland board join forces to boost North fundraising

The new chairman heading up The ARCHIE Foundation (Highland) has revealed a new fundraising board of business professionals to support the drive to raise £100,000 during 2018.

Chair of ARCHIE Highland, Mary Nimmo, has utilised her business contacts to build a strong team to support her vision to raise the six-figure sum for the charity’s recently launched Fresh Air project in the coming 12 months.

Joining Mrs Nimmo on the board is Brian Munro, MD of Pat Munro, Stuart Winterburn, MD of Dynamic Edge, Mike Rae, MD of Highland Copiers, Laura Mackintosh, group operations manager of Royal Golf Hotel, and Pauline Fraser, MD of Frasermedia.

Taking over from David Sutherland CBE, Mrs Nimmo, partner at Munro & Noble Solicitors and Estate Agents said “I sincerely hope our new board can build upon and match the efforts, time, energy and commitment which Mr Sutherland has invested in The ARCHIE Foundation.  We are extremely grateful for his continued support”

The Fresh Air project will raise funds to improve the outdoor space at the Highland Children’s Unit at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, which was completed in 2016 following a £2m fundraising appeal spearheaded by the charity.

The vision is to create an outdoor play area at the unit that will be accessible in all weathers with the gardens showcasing local landmarks and attractions, including a 30-foot topiary Nessie.

Mrs Nimmo, continued: “The people of the Highlands have always been an amazing support to the ARCHIE Foundation and were very much part of the success of creating the state-of-the-art children’s unit in Inverness which now delivers a much needed support service for sick children across the whole of the Highlands and Islands”.

“We now want to further improve on the facilities by creating a much needed, accessible outdoor space so children and their families using the unit can enjoy fresh air in a safe and enjoyable environment.

“I believe that we have pulled together a strong fundraising board of driven business people who share the same passion as the local community to make any child’s stay away from home as comfortable as possible.  We have a dream and a vision to raise £100,000 this year and with the board and, the support of businesses and the people across the Highlands, we can make this vision a reality.”

The children’s unit has made a difference to thousands of children since it opened and The ARCHIE Foundation provides on-going support to the unit.  Donations from the public also help ARCHIE to provide emergency grants for parents to help with accommodation and travel costs, fund additional staff training and supply toys and books for children receiving treatment at the unit.

Some events have already taken place to kick-start the Fresh Air project and more than £15,000 has been raised for the appeal so far.  The fundraising board is focussing on organising more events throughout the year but it is hoped that people across the Highlands will once again come forward to support the appeal and help to reach the target so work can begin on the gardens at the unit in 2019.