Local dance club, the Aberdeen Kilt Kickers, recently presented Maggie’s Aberdeen with a donation of £2,442 thanks to the dancers’ fundraising efforts.
Consisting of 25 local dancers, the Kilt Kickers raised money for the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary-based charity through multiple raffles and events, including the group’s Christmas Village display.
The club recently held a special event to announce and officially hand over its donation to Maggie’s Aberdeen Head of Fundraising, Richard Stewart.
Gina Mathieson, President of the Kilt Kickers explained that each year during its annual general meeting, the group selects a worthy local cause to raise money for.
Mathieson said: “The Kilt Kickers have raised money for numerous charities over the years, including Friends of Anchor and Befriend a Child. During our 2023 AGM, one of our members proposed that we help support Maggie’s Aberdeen and we all agreed.
“We raised more than £2,400 through the year by holding raffles, bonus ball competitions, selling homemade tablet, and through donations during our Christmas Village display.
“Many of us have been directly impacted by cancer and some of our members have received support from Maggie’s too. It’s an important resource for many in the area, so this is a perfect opportunity to give back and help this organisation.”
Richard Stewart added: “This is a wonderful gift to receive and a great example of the impact a group of friends can make when they put their mind to it.
“The cost of running Maggie’s Aberdeen and providing expert support to our visitors is at an all-time high, which is why every donation is so important. To receive this contribution from a local group who gave up their time and money to help raise funds for the centre means a lot to us.
“I feel privileged that we were chosen as the Kilt Kickers’ fundraising partner, and I want to extend our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the team.”
It was also lots of fun attending their meeting – and it’s first time I’ve been asked to dance when receiving a cheque!’
The Aberdeen Kilt Kickers, who claim to be Scotland’s only practicing American Square Dance group, meet at the WRI Hall in Cults twice per week. The group says they have participated in many international festivals and hosted other dancers from Europe and the United States.
New members and beginners are welcome on Mondays, and beginner classes are expected to start in September.
Anyone interested in learning about the Aberdeen Kilt Kickers can find more information at facebook.com/AberdeenKiltKickers.