An epic walk over some of Scotland’s most remote and testing terrain has now raised over £5,000 in support of the River Dee Trust. In June Trust Chairman Richard Gledson, together with Braemar and Crathie Parish Minister Reverend Kenneth Mackenzie (in support of his own charity for under-privileged Romanian children), set out to traverse the perimeter of the parish’s 180,000 acres.
Braemar and Crathie is an extraordinary parish and the walk round the perimeter amounted to 110 strenuous miles and included climbing 14 Munros (the equivalent of ascending Mount Everest from sea level and back), all in a traditional Scottish summer mix of downpours and blazing sunshine.
Mark Bilsby, Director of the River Dee Trust, said: “This is a major and arduous achievement involving the tackling of some of Scotland’s highest and remotest peaks whilst raising money for the River Dee Trust. We are most grateful for the considerable boost to Trust funds – 100 per cent of which will be channeled into projects to restore the Dee and its environment and to encourage all generations to enjoy everything that the river, which is the lifeblood of the Dee valley, has to offer”.
The River Trust is holding a special Fundraising Dinner on 2nd October 2014 at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa at Pitfodels in Aberdeen. The goal is to raise further funds to allow for practical river improvements to ensure the river environment and its wildlife thrives in the future and to develop a local stewardship of the River.
The evening will start with a drinks reception with a very special guest in attendance, followed by a sumptuous dinner and an auction hosted by Christie’s Director Bernard Williams. Tickets for this prestigious event are priced at £150 per person or £1500 for a table of ten. Tickets and further information are available from the River Office – telephone 01339 880411 or email info@riverdee.org
Mr Bilsby added: “The Marcliffe’s owner, Stewart Spence, is very generously hosting this event and consequently all monies raised will help implement our work on the river. This will be one of the last events at Aberdeen’s best-known and only five-star hotel before it closes its doors.”