An Aberdeenshire rotarian who has spent the past 30 years fundraising for his local club has finally scooped a top prize himself.
The rotary clubs hold a grand raffle in the city’s Bon Accord Centre each year, with a Mini up for grabs in aid of cancer charity Clan.
Yesterday, Stonehaven man Ken Reid picked up the keys to his new motor – and admitted he had forgotten he had even entered the raffle.
Mr Reid is part of the local rotary club and regularly supports its various fundraising drives by both selling raffle tickets and buying one or two himself.
The 71-year-old said: “I bought a few tickets through the rotary club, back in September, but it was at Christmas when I found out I had won.
“By then, I had absolutely forgotten all about it, so the call came as a very pleasant surprise.
“I have been a member since the late 1980s but I’ve never won anything like this before.”
Mr Reid, who has four children and eight grandchildren, says he has yet to decide on what to do with the vehicle as he and his wife, Doreen, already have two cars.
More than 20 rotary clubs across the north-east teamed together to stage the fundraising raffle, which amassed £51,000.
About £37,000 will be donated to the Clan, to provide help to families across the north-east affected by the disease. The remaining sum will be split between other local causes supported by the various rotary clubs.
Alan Pirie, of the Aberdeen and North East Rotary Clubs, said: “The raffle continues to go from strength to strength with so much support from the public across the north-east who support it year after year.
“Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without the help and dedication of the 22 Rotary Clubs involved who help to sell raffle tickets at events and venues right throughout the north-east from Easter until Christmas Eve.”
Clan’s head of income generation, Fiona Fernie, added: “Clan has been extremely lucky to have been the beneficiary of the raffle on a number of occasions, and we would also like to thank everyone who purchased a ticket for this year’s draw.”
