Highland Cross 2017

Yet another record year for Highland Cross fundraising!  10^th record in the last 12 years!

The record figure raised in 2016 from Highland Cross participants was £277,189 but this has been surpassed by Highland Cross 2017 competitors raising a superb total of  £280,346!  This now means that Highland Cross has raised over £4.7million over the 35 years of the event.  On 23 November 2017 the 5 principal charities received presentations:

• Abbeyfield Ballachulish Society received £42,930 to purchase a minibus

• Caberfeidh Horizons received £22,794 to purchase a vehicle

• Dundonnell Mountain Rescue received two new 4 x 4 vehicles

• Merkinch Community Centre Association received a contribution of £58,000 towards their new minibus

• Shopmobility Highland, Dingwall received £50,389 to purchase a minibus

In addition to the primary causes, the participants’ success will also allow some smaller grants totalling over £52,000 to be distributed to charities across Highland over the next month.  The Organisers would once again like to thank competitors, sponsors and volunteers for their continued support of Highland Cross.

Photography

Photography from Highland Cross 2017 is available here:

• Click here to view photographs by Rob McConnell

• Click here to view photographs by David Stewart

Lost Property
One of our competitors is looking for help in finding a lost item – a custom built bicycle wheel with a black rim, H Plus Son on the rim in white lettering.  Please let us know if you have this by mistake.

We now have a number of items of lost property and perhaps you can get in touch with us should you be missing any of the following:

• Animal Black/Grey striped rucksack with women’s navy/red/green trainers size 7

• Grey/black Trepass Airtrap fleece (L)

• Carrier with yellow trainers and blue children’s Dare2b zipper top

• 1 Garmin watch

• Pair of tortoiseshell glasses

• Pair of Serelo sunglasses

• Pair of BTwin clear cycling glasses

• Black/red/white NorthSport Photography waterproof (XL)

• Cash

Please telephone us on 07729 892 702 or email us on info@highlandcross.co.uk – these items have now been transferred to Redwood, 19 Culduthel Road, Inverness, IV2 4AA.

Members of the Highland Cross Community will have seen news coverage of the tragic death of a PDG Aviation Services pilot in a crash in North Uist on 13^th June.  PDG has been part of the Highland Cross Community since the start of the event and not only as our superb aerial cover but also through generations of their staff being fundraising participants in the event.  We have expressed our profound sadness to their CEO at this terrible loss.

The Highland Cross Organisers

Mrs Susan Reid

The Organisers of Highland Cross were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Susan Reid.  Susan died peacefully surrounded by her family in Highland Hospice on Thursday 17^th May.  Susan was a volunteer with the Cross from the beginning working at the Athnamulloch Feeding Station at the start of the “Yellow Brick Road”. Ultimately she and her dear friend Angie Knapp led the team that delivered the amazing level of service enjoyed by participants and fellow volunteers. Recently due to health challenges Susan and Angie passed over the leadership of the site to their daughters Fiona and Janie.

Susan has been cared for in the Hospice for a while but retained a constant interest in the arrangements for the forthcoming Cross. It is sadly fitting that Highland Hospice is one of the nominated beneficiaries for this year’s event. Susan was the most reliable of friends and had an amazing warmth and joy in the company of people which made her perfect for her role in the Cross.  Our deepest condolences go out to her husband, Jim, and her whole family.

Calum Munro

Co-Founder and Organising Secretary

Highland Cross

Miriam Campbell

Highland Cross is deeply saddened to announce the death of Miss Miriam Campbell of Beauly.  Miriam has been a stalwart supporter of Highland Cross since it was invited to place its Finish in Beauly 34 years ago. Along with her sister, Catriona, she organised the collaboration of Ladies Groups who continue to supply the meal to participants in the Phipps Hall.  Her brother James is the Highland Cross’s Beauly Organiser.

Miriam was the epitome of a Highland lady and was deeply committed to her family and to the well being of her community. Her death is a sore loss for all who knew and cared for her.  Highland Cross will be represented at her funeral in Beauly on Wednesday 7^th June.

Highland Cross congratulates Crossroads Skye and Lochalsh

Highland Cross is extremely proud to have assisted the wonderful team at Crossroads Skye and Lochalsh with funding in the past and is grateful to them and to their Manager, Jenny Millington, for having staffed the Lichdt House Water Point in past years.

It has just been announced that that for the SEVENTH year running they have achieved the highest possible score in their Care Commission unannounced inspection. This is a remarkable testament to the commitment of everybody involved in this wonderful service but especially to Jenny Millington and her team who deliver such a much needed service in the remote communities of Skye and Lochalsh.

Highland Cross is proud to be associated with such a wonderful causes and those of you who fundraise for the event and work to make it happen can see the quality of the organisations that your efforts support.

For more on this see:

http://www.whfp.com/2017/07/05/glowing-inspection-report-for-excellent-crossroads-care/

Freedom of Beauly and the Glens Award

Highland Cross were delighted to be amongst the organisations supporting the award of the "Freedom of Beauly and the Glens" to the Campbell family from Beauly.  James Campbell was instrumental in arranging for the second event to switch its finish from Inverness to Beauly.

Beauly is in many ways the spiritual home of Highland Cross! James has been the Beauly Organiser for the Cross for the last 34 years and his sisters Miriam and Catriona have been key workers in organising the Beauly ladies' organisations to provide the finish meal for the participants.  As well as their work for the Cross the family has worked tirelessly for the betterment of Beauly and contributed hugely to community and business life.  Highland Cross was represented at the Freedom Ceremony by Calum Munro who was also asked to act as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Gerry Grant collecting his MBE with his wife Sheila

at Buckingham Palace on 16 November 2017

Special Endeavour Trophy Winner 2017 - Ian Stewart 

For those competitors who attended the Presentation on Saturday 17^th June, they have already heard a summary of why Ian Stewart was chosen for the Special Endeavour Trophy for 2017.  Here is a summary, written by Ian’s wife Shelagh, of the events since 2015 and why the Organisers believe that Ian was a suitable candidate for the award.

21 June 2015

Ian comes off bike 13 miles from finish. He doesn't really remember getting back on the bike and his first recollection is 6 miles later on trying to cycle up the Aigas hill with everyone going faster than him. He finishes race but crossing the line Calum spots he doesn't look too great, paramedics immediately check him over - just a sore neck, not another scratch on him. They don't think it can be too serious because he managed to cycle so far. As a precaution they brace his neck and take him to Raigmore. 

X-ray and scans shows it's very serious -  C1, C2 vertebrae are shattered and a spinal artery is severed.  There's an associated risk of paralyses or death but surprisingly he still had full feeling and movement in all limbs. On the plus side the multiple fractures are proven to be 'stable' because he managed to cycle with them for 13 miles. 

Over the next few weeks he goes from head blocks in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to a halo brace making him look like a hat rack but at least he can move about. The surgery options are a bit risky but they're the only ones that would provide the support for his active lifestyle. All along Calum from the Cross was phoning for updates on Ian's condition. Finally a surgery date is set with a great neurosurgeon Mr Alakandy at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow. The surgery goes well and his neck is fastened with 4 bolts and pins. After 3 months in the halo, he's into a neck collar and 6 weeks after in December he tentatively starts running and goes back on the Skye Mountain rescue team call out list.
 
He ran the Skye half marathon in June 2016, only a year after the accident. Although easily fit enough to do the cross again his family was not emotionally ready for that!

We had a happy ending, but all that time in hospital you see that for so many others, many of them young, some with young families, it is not like that. And even in a case like Ian's, if luck is not on your side, the outcome can be catastrophic. Good fortune is never to be taken for granted.

Our own good fortune was entirely due to the highland X paramedics, staff and surgeons at Raigmore, Aberdeen and Glasgow. To be part of what must be the most important charity event in the Highlands one more time is a tribute to the systems, communication and all staff of the NHS. This, and support from Calum and the Highland Cross organisers, and all friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues at Sitekit on Skye made the whole experience very positive! We cannot thank everyone enough for their support.

Crossroads Care - Skye and Lochalsh

Crossroads Care - Skye and Lochalsh were thrilled with the delivery and installation of the new signage for their shop in Portree. Having had temporary signs in place since they moved in, Highland Cross kindly funded the making and installation of the signs. Service Manager, Jennifer Millington said “these new signs have changed everything for us, our shop now looks complete and the bold and eye-catching signs will encourage more shoppers in, meaning more funds to allow us to continue to care and support the community of Skye and Lochalsh".

The signs were designed by local designer Hugh Campbell which were part of a new re-branding of Crossroads Care – Skye and Lochalsh, and includes a new logo which has been incorporated into the new signage.

The Highland Cross have also previously donated to the Crossroads Care shop funds for shop fittings and rails, making it easier for us to display our wonderful stock, all of which is kindly donated by the local community to fund care for anyone who needs it in Skye and Lochalsh.

Mrs Cicely Ross, Cannich

1931 - 2018

It is with deep sadness that The Organising Committee has to inform the Community of the Cross of the death of Mrs Cicely Ross the Organiser of the water point at Cannich .  Cicely was buried in her beloved Fasnakyle on Thursday 22nd March and Highland Cross was represented at her funeral service by Gerry Grant and Calum Munro.

Cicely was the Secretary of the Cannich Community Council when she heard “two crazy firemen” – her words - explain the idea of the event that grew into Highland Cross.  She immediately volunteered to organise the water point at Cannich and continued to undertake this role for thirty years. When she “retired” from the role she passed it onto her daughter Sheena but Cicely returned every year to help out or to check that things were being done to her high standards. Every year she prepared vast quantities of tablet for the drinks table to give an energy boost to weary participants and to many regular participants she became known as “Granny Tablet”.  Cicely loved people and this came through in her tireless work for her Community and in her commitment to Highland Cross. Without folk like Cicely the Cross would not exist.   The Community of the Cross is diminished by her passing.

A tribute to Lloyd Arthur
Lloyd Arthur who died recently aged 75 was an enthusiastic presence in establishing Highland Cross in its early years.  It was typical of Lloyd that when he spotted the 1983 Midsummer Madathon challenge on the Raigmore Laboratory notice board, he became one of our first volunteers as the efficient marshal at the Fasnakyle control point.  Inspired by this experience he went on to lead a very good fundraising laboratory team (LSD!) in succeeding years before graduating to be the coordinator for the volunteer units on the foot section stages; he was also on the organising committee in planning the successful staging of the annual event for many years.  Throughout his long illness Lloyd maintained a keen interest in “The Cross” news and in encouraging one of his regular visitors to do “just one more”; he particularly enjoyed a rare outing to attend an annual Highland Cross Charity Gift Presentation evening to the successful major charity beneficiaries that year.

At his Service of Thanksgiving in the Church of Scotland Hilton Church attended by his family, many of his laboratory colleagues and friends, tributes were made to his time as the Session Clerk and as captain of the Boys Brigade there. We were also reminded of his many other sporting activities in golf, squash, hillwalking etc as well as his wide range of interests including holiday travel abroad.  Lloyd’s was a life well lived.

Highland Cross 2016

Yet another record year for Highland Cross fundraising!

The record figure raised in 2015 from Highland Cross participants was £261,290 but this has been surpassed by Highland Cross 2016 competitors who have shattered the previous record by raising a superb total of  £277,189!

This now means that Highland Cross has raised over £4.4million over the 34 years of the event.

 On 24 November 2016 the 6 principal charities received presentations:

• The Archie Foundation received £40,000 to fit out the High Dependency Unit at the Children’s Unit at Raigmore Hospital making a total of £80,000 given to the Children’s Unit in recent years by Highland Cross.

• SOAR Youth Projects in Ross-shire received two specially adapted minibuses.

• Inverness Voluntary Transport Scheme received a new vehicle.

• Highland BlindCraft received a new vehicle for their fundraising workshop and sales division.

• Blythswood Care received a new vehicle for their food bank operation.

• Birchwood Highland received funding to build a sun lounge for their residential care facility.

In addition to the primary causes, the participants’ success will also allow some smaller grants to be distributed to charities across Highland over the next month.  The Organisers would once again like to thank competitors, sponsors and volunteers for their continued support of Highland Cross.

Top Fundraising Teams of 2016

Third Sector Award

Highland Cross was delighted that the Community of Highland Cross - the supporting organisations, volunteers and sponsors who actually make the day happen - was awarded the Community Initiative Award 2016 by the Highland Third Sector Interface.  The Interface is the co-ordinating body for charities and social enterprises in Highland.  The Highland Cross Organisers assembled a small representative group to go to Strathpeffer on the 25th August 2016 to collect the Award.

The photograph shows Drew Hendry MP with:  Fiona Kennedy from Athnamulloch Waterpoint, Elizabeth Christie the Administration Organiser, James Dunbar OBE the CEO of New Start Highland representing charities, James Campbell of R & F Campbell Ltd who leads our haulage fleet, Jonathan Wotherspoon representing landowners and others who support the route, Keith Pratt our Safety Net Organiser who also represented the volunteers from Scouting, Andy Beaton Leader of Dundonell MRT representing all the teams who support us, James MacKenzie from Beauly Community, Neil Gauld from PDG Helicopters and Scott Hay from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Graham MacLean
The sudden death of Graham MacLean after a short illness will come as a shock to many who knew him as an influential figure in the first 20 years of Highland Cross.

Graham was a member of the small Fire Brigade group that launched the Midsummer Madathon in 1983 and in becoming our treasurer until he retired in 2002.  As our “Iron Chancellor” his contribution and time given to the growing years of “the Cross” was immense, readily recognised and appreciated by his successor, John Fraser.

Graham played a key role at critical moments for the event; when it became an “open” event taking the administration into our own homes (thus saving the public purse) and later when we secured charity status as a private company. He was also instrumental in transforming nominated charities from happy recipients to being actively involved by providing essential manpower to the safety and welfare network for the event.

At every Highland Cross weekend, his was a large and bantering presence responsible for the bike loading and entrants’ buses before working his way from Morvich along the course to overseeing the finish arrangements in Beauly Square and prize giving. His wife, Sandra, was ever present at the medal presentation while son Andrew did sterling work on bike loading duties.

I will remember him as a valued colleague, a good companion on our Highland Cross journey.

Gerry Grant

Congratulations!
Highland Cross is delighted to send its congratulations to two charities that are part of our Community for their achievements in the recently released Care Commission Annual Inspection results.

Crossroads Care Skye and Lochalsh
Crossroads Care Skye and Lochalsh have been awarded the highest inspection grades for the fifth year running! Crossroads operates as a respite care service giving vital support to individuals and families caring for loved ones in their homes.  The charity is led by a small board of local trustees and the Skye and Lochalsh community are strongly supportive of Crossroads work and fundraising initiatives. Highland Cross was delighted to part fund the outfitting of their new shop premises in Portree from the Smaller Grants Scheme. Profits from the shop help fund the charity’s vital work.

Volunteers from Crossroads, led by Service Co-ordinator Jenny Millington, have staffed the water point at Glenlicht House in previous years. “Lucky 2 be here” another Skye based charity and another previous beneficiary of the Cross covered the site this year.

Birchwood Highland
Staff and service users at local mental health charity Birchwood Highland are celebrating great results from two visits by the Care Inspectorate, to the Inverness Support Service, the Lochaber Support Service and the Easter Ross Support Service, the Care Inspectorate awarded all three services the top rating ‘Excellent’.  The services provide housing support and care at home to individuals across the region.  The same grade was awarded to Birchwood Highland’s Recovery Centre after another unannounced inspection of the 23-bedroomed facility in Inverness, where individuals are supported by a dedicated team of nurses and support workers.

Birchwood Highland are nominated as a major beneficiary from Highland Cross 2016 and volunteers from the charity were working in the Finish Area in Beauly Square on the 18th June.

The Community of the Cross – Making the day happen
These two examples show the quality of the causes that Highland Cross is honoured to support. Volunteers from twenty charities supported by Highland Cross this year or through previous fundraising were working to make the day happen and to bring in essential funds for Highland causes. They were supported by local communities across the route, individual volunteers from Highland Cross, its commercial and organisational partners. These wonderful folk create a unique community of interested people, intent on generating as much benefit as possible and pushing the £4.1m raised over the past 33 years yet further.

Founders of Highland Cross honoured

Everyone who is associated with Highland Cross in any way will have been pleased to hear the news that in Saturday’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Gerry Grant and Calum Munro were awarded MBEs.  As many of you will know, Gerry and Calum were co-founders of Highland Cross back in 1983 and both have been involved over the 34 years of running the event.  In recent years, Calum has been principal co-ordinator while Gerry is one of the three independent panellists who choose the charities to be supported each year.

Each has given tens of thousands of hours of their time voluntarily over the period.  Many charities, competitors and volunteers have benefited from their input and are proud to be associated with the event.  Highland Cross would not be in existence without these two gentlemen coming up with the idea and we congratulate them on receiving their deserved awards.

J.F.

Highland Children's Unit about to go operational

Calum Munro represented Highland Cross at the preview of the new Highland Children's Unit on 25th April. The Unit officially receives patients on 9th May and a large group of funders and supporters of the project gathered to be shown round.

The facilities are extremely impressive and look nothing like a standard NHS facility. Great effort has gone into making them as child and young person friendly as possible with enhanced facilities for parents/carers to be with seriously ill children.

The £40,000 of Highland Cross funding from the 2012 event will be combined with the funds raised this year to pay for the fitting out of the High Dependency Unit (HDU) a key area of the new Unit. The attached photograph shows the Nurse's Station in the HDU and gives a taste of the decoration and quality of finish in the whole unit.  Another wonderful example of what the wonderful folk of the Community of Highland Cross have achieved for the wider Highland Community!

Highland Cross congratulates Calman Trust on their latest venture

Over the years Highland Cross has been proud to support Calman Trust in their work with Highland young people. Your fund raising has purchased machines for their work wear enterprise and a refrigerated vehicle for their outside catering business and they are our caterers of choice for our annual celebration and gift evening. The attached link takes you to an article about their latest venture, running the staff canteen for SSE's HQ in Inverness.  Yet another high quality organisation that forms part of the Community of Highland Cross!

 
http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/social-enterprise-to-run-sse-staff-canteen

Angus MacKenzie OBE, CA

It is with great sadness that I must inform the Community of Highland Cross of the sudden death of Angus MacKenzie.

Angus came into the Community of Highland Cross through his involvement with Highland Riding for the Disabled - only one of many charities that benefitted from his commitment and acumen.  With him he brought his colleagues and staff from his accountancy firm MacKenzie Kerr and beyond his retirement Angus was a loyal supporter of the Cross and his colleagues became the very backbone of the administration and financial aspects of the Cross which they have remained through the intervening decades.  Angus's nephew John Fraser, our current treasurer, has strengthened the link to the Cross.  Angus was a keen shooter and for many years combined his duties at the Start Registration tables with discharging his 12 bore to start folk on their way.  Angus's funeral was a testament to a life of service to his community and marked the passing of a man who was the very epitome of a Highland Gentleman.

Calum Munro, Co Founder and Organising Secretary, Highland Cross

Alex Brett

It is with deep sadness that Highland Cross has to inform its community of the tragic death of one of our stalwart participants – Alex Brett from Dingwall.  Alex had completed 28 Crosses and took part as a member of the “The Three Amigos” team. A trio that had regularly won team prizes over the years.   A true Highland gentleman and committed outdoorsman he died after a fall on Liathach in the Torridon area.

Calum receives a deserved award

Everyone associated with Highland Cross was very pleased to hear that at the Highland Third Sector Awards 2015 held recently, our Co-founder and Organising Secretary of Highland Cross, Calum Munro was given an Outstanding Achievement Award.  This award was in recognition of his outstanding achievements within the Third Sector in Highland and the positive contribution that he has made to our community.  Among other achievements, this reflects his huge contribution to Highland Cross over 33 years and how his hard work, his organisation and his enthusiasm has benefited so many different charitable organisations within the Highland community.

Calum received a lovely plaque and scroll which were handed over by Mr John Finnie, MSP.