A gin distiller diagnosed with terminal cancer is producing hand sanitiser as a way of thanking the NHS for his care.
Iain Black, of Ice and Fire Distillery in Caithness, was diagnosed with terminal neuroendocrine cancer three years ago.
The 43-year-old recently decided to show his gratitude to those who have cared for him by using his business to help keep them safe from infection.
The Latheronwheel man has now welcomed a funding boost from two local windfarm schemes which will allow the business to take production to “the next level”.
The cash injection from SSE and Eon will allow Mr Black to buy enough ingredients to produce 4,000 litres of hand rub.
He said: “With the way things are, it is about doing all we can do to help in any way we can.
“I owe so much to the NHS myself through my personal circumstances. All the doctors, nurses and everybody who looked after me, they have just been brilliant.”
The father-of-two added: “Even if we weren’t in the position we are in, we would still try to do something to help folk.
“We never even thought about charging anything for this.
“We are a little community here but we are trying to help anybody who needs it right across the county.
“We will ship it out to anybody who needs stock.”
Mr Black has praised the community response in Caithness, adding: “Everybody up here has been really quick to get things sorted and they have been really just fantastic.
“Folk in Caithness are really friendly anyway and always looking out for each other which they have done again here.”
Bottles of the sanitiser are being distributed by dedicated care groups set up in Caithness to be used by key workers.
They will be handed out through the Coronavirus Hub in Wick, Dunbeath Day Centre and via the Caithness Rural Transport Bus.
Jacquie Black, director of the distillery and Mr Black’s sister, has praised the work of various agencies including Highland Council’s trading standards team – who collected and sent away lab tests for certification free of charge.
She said: “We are only a small distillery but 4,000 litres is a lot of hand sanitiser and it is going to keep people going for a long time.
“We are just a young business of about a year and the community has supported us by buying our gin, we couldn’t be in business without them, so it is really good to give something back.”
