A MORAY BUSINESS group is celebrating after raising thousands of pounds for a local charity – and is now searching for a new cause to support for 2016.
The Moray Business Women’s Club raised £9000 for their 2015 nominated charity, Lucy’s Fight for Motor Neurone Disease. Now they are on the hunt for their 2016 charity and are seeking nominations.
Donna Harper, the newly elected president of the club said: “We are looking for local charities to pitch for being our chosen charity for 2016. This year we raised an amazing total for Lucy’s Fight.”
Donna, a partner of Johnston Carmichael, added: “The money was raised throughout the year at the various events that we hold.
“We have had raffles, some members have taken part in sponsored events and we recently held our annual awards ceremony where we had an auction. We were lucky enough to have Lucy at the ceremony where she gave an emotional speech about her fight.”
Lucy’s Fight for MND was set up by Lucy Lintott who in 2013 at the age of 19 was diagnosed with MND. Since then she has been fundraising with a goal of £100,000 which she hopes will help raise awareness of the condition and find a cure.
Lucy, who is from Garmouth, said: “This is an incredible amount that MBWC have raised for Lucy’s Fight. I couldn’t believe it when I was told the amount, it is a huge help towards my £100,000 target.
“It is almost been a year since my dad came home and told me they’d chosen Lucy’s Fight as their charity of the year and I still feel honoured to have been chosen. This is going to help a lot of people with MND lead easier lives and hopefully find a cure.
“Most importantly it raises awareness. I believe that the awareness of MND needs to be doubled before there’s even a possibility of a cure to be found.”
Moray Business Women meet monthly and events are open to all women working or having worked in Moray and the surrounding area whether they are self-employed, employed or both. The members offer support and inspiration to one another at their different business development stages, whilst communicating and collaborating to do business and have fun at our monthly events.
Outgoing president Susan Longmuir said: “It has been a fantastic year for MBWC and I am very proud to have been president for 2015. I would like to thank all my fellow members and guests for their support and in particular the hard working committee ladies.
“Three of our members were honoured by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen which the group are affiliated to and we had a record number of entries to our own awards.
“The amount raised at our Charity Awards Ball and other fundraising events including our monthly raffles has enabled us to assist Lucy’s Fight with Motor Neurone Disease. We very much look forward to continuing our success into 2016 and celebrating 10 years.”
To nominate a charity for 2016 people are being asked to email president@mbwc.org.uk.