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Anniversary Ball Smashes Harbro Charity Target

Over 430 Harbro customers, staff and guests celebrated the company’s 40th birthday at the anniversary ball held at Thainstone Exchange on Saturday 13th May where it was announced that so far, £84,000 had been raised, well exceeding the £40,000 target that was the original aim of the Harbro fundraising initiative.

Guests enjoyed a five course meal, dancing to the Graham Geddes band and the evening included a raffle, heads & tails and an auction which alone raised £24,150 with Colin Slessor, ANM on the rostrum.

The current total of £84,000 includes a donation which was made to Harbro on the evening by the committee of the Taylormade Ball. Since 2008, Joyce and Steven Dalgarno and their friends have fundraised, initially for Great Ormond Street’s tracheal team after Taylor Dalgarno received corrective surgery at the hospital.

The 10th and final ball raised £14,200 and handing over the cheque, Mrs Dalgarno said ”Harbro has been one of the major and long-term supporters of our ball and to show our appreciation for their continued support, we decided to raise money at our ball for their four charities.”

To celebrate their 40th year in business, Harbro Limited had aimed to raise £40,000 for four charities, Kidney Kids Scotland, JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), British Heart Foundation and north-east Scotland based CLAN.

Two of the charities, JDRF and Kidney Kids Scotland have close personal links with Mr Baxter whose grandson Sam, aged 5 has type 1 diabetes and Peter Kenyon, Harbro chairman whose daughter Kate, 24 suffered from kidney failure as a young girl as result of E. coli 0157 infection. She received her first kidney transplant aged seven and a second kidney last year with a period of four years of dialysis in between.

“We were humbled by our two speakers at the ball, Mechelle McAlley on behalf of JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and Kate Kenyon on behalf of Kidney Kids Scotland who spoke about how type 1 diabetes and kidney failure had affected their lives.” says Graham Baxter, managing director.

Mechelle McAlley told of the research carried out by JDRF in Scotland and recited a poem which gave an insight into her son’s diagnosis.

“When Type 1 diabetes came into our life it was a huge shock and at first we had no idea what that diagnosis actually meant. We walked into the doctor’s surgery thinking our child had a minor ailment and left with a three year old son who had an incurable, chronic, life threatening condition. The five injections and 10 finger pricks daily are only a small part of managing that condition.” she said.

“Kidney Kids Scotland is not only a charity for me, it's a family that extends their love to whoever needs them.” explained Kate Kenyon who acts as an ambassador for the charity.

“Recently they have funded for four young children to have haemodialysis in the comfort of their own home with their families. This will impact people in a way that words cannot describe. Instead of travelling upwards of six hours three times a week, children can be more 'normal', go to school and see their friends and live their lives. You can't ask for more than that.” she added.

“We have been deeply touched by the generosity of our customers, friends and staff who have supported all of our events over the year.” added Peter Kenyon, chairman.

Fundraising events continue until the end of June with a gig being held on Saturday, 10th June in Turriff with Jolson.

For more information, contact Madeleine Fraser on 07774 212 162 or madeleine.fraser@harbro.co.uk

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