CAPTAINS’ CHARITY FUND CHEQUES PRESENTED
Photo: Royal Dornoch Ladies captain Rosemary Muschamps presents a £28,000 cheque to Antony Hope, chair and helmsman with the East Sutherland Rescue Association
TWO Highland charities have been boosted by a near £70,000 donation from Royal Dornoch.
Members and guests have supported the Captains’ Charity Fund over the last two years, with Gary Bethune and Rosemary Muschamps choosing Mikeysline and, over the last 12 months, the East Sutherland Rescue Association to benefit from various fundraising ventures.
“We didn’t set a target but the money that has been raised has surpassed all our expectations,” said Gary, who recently handed over the men’s captaincy role to Tain-based financial advisor Colin Mackay.
“It is amazing just how much has been raised for these two charities, which do such great work in the community.”
Gary presented a £40,000 cheque at the clubhouse to Alistair Greig, fundraising coordinator with Inverness-based mental health charity Mikeysline, while ladies captain Rosemary delighted Antony Hope, chair of Dornoch-based ESRA, with a donation for £28,413.
Rosemary said: “Golfers playing the Championship Course can see the ESRA base on our doorstep near the beach by the 16th tee.
“It is entirely reliant on public support and private funding.
“Auctions at the Captains’ Invitational Weekend and other events were generously supported by donors and bidders, with high figure items including an oil painting by US artist Aimee Smith which she created out on the golf course.”
Emily Stokes, CEO with Mikeysline, a mental health and suicide prevention charity supporting people aged 11 and over across the Highlands and Islands and Moray, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Royal Dornoch and their supporters who have helped make this fundraiser such a success.
“This is a fantastic example of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.”
The charity, founded in 2015 following the deaths of friends Martin Shaw and Michael “Mikey” Williamson within 48 hours of each other, has grown beyond its Inverness roots and now provides a range of confidential peer support services 365 days a year, promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention and wellbeing work in schools and workplaces.
“Golf clubs are at the heart of many communities, and they can play an important role in creating spaces where people feel connected and able to talk,” added Emily.
“For Mikeysline, this support will help us continue to make those conversations happen and reach those who may be struggling in silence.
“This fabulous donation will make a genuine difference to our work, and we’re so proud to have everyone at the club support the mission of Mikeysline, reminding all that it’s ok not to be ok.”
ESRA helmsman Antony, who runs the Dornoch Bookshop, said the donation could not have been timed better, after rescue group volunteers faced hefty bills for repairing one boat damaged during a recent rescue operation, and a replacement engine needed for a smaller vessel.
“It is a fantastic gesture by Royal Dornoch and we are grateful to everyone who contributed. To say we were surprised by the size of the cheque is an understatement,” he said.
“We damaged the gearbox and hull of our big boat when we had no choice but to run aground on a shingle beach to ensure the casualty could get urgent life-saving treatment from the emergency services.
“And then we had to buy a brand-new engine for our smaller boat after it gave out during a large-scale, 12-hour search in the Firth.
“We were facing costs of £15,000 so without this support from the golf club we’d have drained our reserves.”
*The latest golf club donations follow on from earlier Community Fund support which saw more than £15,000 distributed to 35 groups and individuals, and £50,000 given to the town’s Common Good Fund every year as part of the long-term lease agreement for the famous links.