More than £25,000 has been raised for grassroots sport in the North and North-east.
This comes as a result of the generosity of 250 business people who attended the Cala Homes Aberdeen Rugby Dinner in aid of The Bill McLaren Foundation on Thursday evening (October 29). The event took place at Ardoe House Hotel & Spa and featured two of the game’s greatest players, Australian legends Nick Farr-Jones and Michael Lynagh, as well as Bill McLaren’s grandson Rory Lawson, a former Scottish internationalist, who acted as MC for the evening.
Proceeds from the event, generated through ticket sales and fundraisers on the night, including an auction, will be used by the foundation to support projects in the region.
The dinner, organised by Aberdeen-based event management company, 46 Degrees and with Cala Homes as main sponsor, represented the foundation’s fourth major event in the north-east.
The late great McLaren spent time in the Granite City when he studied at Woolmanhill Physical Education College, maintaining his passion for the oval ball game by turning out for Aberdeenshire during his stay in the 1940s.
Following his death in 2010, McLaren’s family and friends formed the foundation bearing the renowned broadcaster’s name.
Linda Lawson, Bill’s daughter and a director of the foundation, said: “It has been five years since the seeds of dad’s foundation were sown in the simplest of ways - over a coffee in Hawick. From that time, having formed an excellent board of trustees and achieved charitable status, our ambitions have grown, our vision has broadened, funds have been raised and grants awarded.
“Dad was made aware of our intentions at an early stage in discussions and was a bit bemused as to why we should feel so strongly about continuing the work he had begun during his teaching and broadcasting careers. He really had no idea of the influence he had had on so many people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds.
“Since becoming a charity we have given more than £500,000 to worthy causes and clubs mainly in Scotland but also further afield in South Africa, New Zealand and Hong Kong. And we are very grateful to all those people who attended the dinner in Aberdeen for helping us continue this great work.”
For further information about The Bill McLaren Foundation please call 07929655132 or visit www.billmclarenfoundation.co.u...