Two local children’s charities in Aberdeen will benefit to the tune of more than £20,000 from an initiative started by Aberdeen FC’s first team nearly a decade ago.
In the summer of 2006, the Dons toured South Africa as part of their pre-season preparations and visited an orphanage in Soweto.
Former club captain Russell Anderson explained: “It was an extremely humbling experience for us and we set up a fund on our return home.
“However, the circumstances of the orphanage changed and, despite repeated attempts to communicate with them, the club has been unsuccessful in attempting to re-establish contact.
“The decision was therefore taken to utilise what we have in the bank account to assist local youngsters’ causes here in the north east.”
As a result, Cash for Kids will receive a donation of more than £11,000 from the AFC Community Trust, with a similar sum going to the ARCHIE Foundation, the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Sick Children’s Hospital.
Mr Anderson added: “The money was raised for the benefit of boys and girls in need and we believe the redistribution of the funds in this way is in keeping with the spirit for which the money was raised in the first place.”