Spar Scotland's Kilamanjaro trek raises £56,000 for charities

A team from Spar Scotland has raised more than £50,000 for local charities after a seven-day trek to conquer Mount Kilamanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.

The team raised £56,766 for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, and Maggie’s Dundee, which provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer, their family and friends.

The team consisted of Susan Hutchison, owner of Spar Scone, CJ Lang & John colleagues Graham Murdoch and Jamie Buchanan, and Spar customer John Evans.

Money was raised through collection buckets placed in stores throughout Scotland and also via personal donations.

Jamie Buchanan said: “The fantastic work of Maggie’s and Edinburgh Sick Kids inspired us to do something out of the ordinary to raise funds for these terrific charities. We are completely overwhelmed by the response from our families, friends, colleagues and customers, and to raise over £50,000 gave us that extra motivation to get to the summit.”

Graham Murdoch added: “The support and sacrifice by our families and the support from the company has been outstanding. We feel extremely privileged and proud to have been able to represent Spar Scotland and the charities at the highest point in Africa.”

Valerie Ross, head of trusts and partnerships for Maggie’s in Scotland, said: “It’s been truly humbling to see the commitment shown by Jamie, John, Susan and Graham as they trained and fundraised tirelessly. The funds they have raised will allow Maggie’s to continue to develop its unique, high quality programme of support, making the biggest difference possible to people in Scotland with cancer, and their family and friends. We can’t thank them enough.”

Katy Sandford from Edinburgh’s Sick Kids said: “The money the Spar team has raised will make a huge difference to the wellbeing and comfort of the 100,000 children who pass through the doors of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh every year, and we hope their story will inspire other fundraisers to take on this ‘once in a life time’ challenge.”