The future of a family fun day that has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity could be in jeopardy unless volunteers can be found to help keep it alive.
Denise Thomson has almost single-handedly staged “It’s a Knockout” inspired obstacle course events in Buckie every summer for the past five years.
But the 54-year-old said the “exhausting” process of setting up the arena in Linzee Gordon Park was becoming too much for her and her family.
Mrs Thomson, her husband John and two sons laboured away until midnight after the latest installment, bringing down huge canvas tents.
She said that Mr Thomson was limited in how much he could help, after losing his arm in machinery while working at a grain store in Keith in 2012.
Mrs Thomson added: “Organising and monitoring the teams can be tricky, but that side of things isn’t too bad.
“Our problem is a lack of manpower on the day, to help set up and take down the tents.
“That can be hard work, as these are heavy things.
“My sons do their bit but my husband can’t help as much as he would like to, since his accident, and we were there from 6am until midnight last time.”
Mrs Thomson has already formed plans to stage another event next summer, but she envisions it will be a struggle to hold more in subsequent years unless volunteers step forward.
She said: “My sons have started having families and won’t be able to help to the same extent.
“Everybody says it is a really good event, and they want to see it go on, so we are just asking for some volunteers to help out on the day itself.”
It was when working as a nurse at Buckie’s Seafield Hospital that Mrs Thomson struck upon the idea of staging the colourful spectacle.
She arranged for an English firm to travel to the town with a selection of large, brightly coloured inflatables and attracted teams from across Moray to compete.
It was originally devised to raise hospital funds, but expanded in later years to collect cash for local causes.
Mrs Thomson has asked that any residents willing to help her and her family continue the fundraisers should contact her by e-mail on denisethomson2@btinternet.com
