The Peedie Retreat’s builds fund has reached the momentous halfway point of an incredible £143,000.

The Peedie Retreat will be a haven for Orkney people facing the challenges of Cancer or Multiple Sclerosis.

Highland Park’s Marie Gulliver presented the Charity with an astounding cheque for £12,000 gifted through the Edrington Giving More, Staff Fundraising Scheme, and matched by the Robertson Trust, for supporting the Charity’s recent “New to You Sales” the first held at Veltigar, Tankerness and the second hosted by the Masonic Club.

Highland Park staff supported both events with a wonderful team effort Marie and her daughter Leah helped over the Tankerness weekend, Kevin Drever and wife Lynn, Sean Dearness and Gary Skea, worked tirelessly, with the setting up and dismantling at both events.

The Tankerness Sale raised an incredible £3776. HIAL Security Guards donated £224 raised through selling good as new books to Air travellers bringing that total to £4,000.  The Masonic Hall event and Marie’s Kindness through the Edrington/ Roberston Trusts Scheme turned a Peedie Idea into a phenomenal fundraiser raising £17, 443.

Islanders have continued to support the build fund with multiple donations: the Masonic Club; Carolynn and Dougie Paterson for the Party shed; and the Retreat’s own wonderful A Team of fundraisers.

In just 16 months funding and pledges have come in from:

• £52,000 from HUS Architecture
• Belle Thomson at Best for Bathrooms Orkney
• Kelly & Alan Scott at Nobilia Kitchens
• The Gray family HEAT ORKNEY
• Ryan Coltherd Electrician
• RS Merriman’s Electrics
• Mark Groundwater Painter & Decorator and Peter McKinlay from Bains Decorating supplies
• Wellpark Garden Centre
• Mc EWENS Furniture
• PIXELATE Designs
• OTE – Orkney Television Enterprise
• Alison Moore

A whopping  £78,000 in fundraising has been achieved with  Orkney’s businesses supporting both The Big Hearted Raffle 2022 and The Pirate Treasure Hunt with fantastic prizes, and  local business clubs and groups,  Helgis pub quizzers who have donated twice,  Kirkwall Ladies  Darts, Macmillan Cup, The Rotary Club, Orbital Marine, Kirkwall Flower Club, The Boy Ryan, Friends of Stonework’s,  The Orkney Mission, Repsol, Open Garden Events, Tesco Trolly Dash, Jeanne Bouza Rose artist and The Masonic Members £1k donation and the total made  up with  Wellbeing grants and NHS Endowment Fund  and Repsol small grant scheme.

The Team of Fundraiser’s at The Peedie Retreat thanked “every single person who has donated in name or anonymously or bought raffle and event tickets. Orkney together have made the Best Christmas for all the people who the Peedie Retreat hope to help in the future, you are all creating this wonderful Orkney Haven together.”