Friends and family of a teenage Moray cyclist, killed in a road accident, have rallied to raise money for life-saving equipment in his honour.
Keiran McKandie was killed while out on his mountain bike near Elgin in March. At the weekend, about 200 people packed into Miltonduff Village Hall to attend a fundraising auction for defibrillators.
During the event, a poignant video tribute was screened to honour the teenager, who would have celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday.
Pictures of Keiran growing up and demonstrating his passion for his bike were set to his favourite music.
The family is aiming to raise £10,000 to pay for the life-saving equipment to be installed inside police cars in Moray, but also wants the devices to be rolled out across Scotland.
Keiran’s mum, Sandra McKandie, was overwhelmed by the generosity of the bidders on Saturday evening.
She said: “Everybody has been so supportive and so kind. You wish you were doing these things for the right reasons, but it just doesn’t bring the person back.
“It’s very difficult. We wanted it to be a celebration and everybody there was happy.”
Prior to the bidding in the auction, there was a standing ovation in Keiran’s honour before the night closed with a Strip the Willow dance, which was the teenager’s favourite.
The final total raised on the night has not yet been calculated, but fundraisers are already in the pipeline later this year to add to the Elgin Academy pupil’s legacy.
Mrs McKandie added: “We can’t allow him to be forgotten. We want him to stay in everybody’s hearts.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead donated a tour of the Scottish Parliament for one of the lots in the action alongside money-can’t-buy trips in a Typhoon simulator at RAF Lossiemouth and signed goggles from cyclist Kyle Norbraten.
He said: “Given what they have been through, no-one can fail to be full of admiration for the decision by Keiran’s parents to organise such an event.
“The way in which their family, friends and wider community rallied round to raise a significant amount of cash to help others was quite amazing.
“It’s very evident Keiran was much-loved, very popular and has left behind a lasting legacy.”
