Oldmeldrum-based
charity, Kayleigh’s Wee Stars (KWS), held their first KWS Cycling Sportive in
Donside, where 140 cyclists participated raising a grand total of £2,500 for
the charity.
KWS was set up in 2012 by Jonathan and Anna
Cordiner after losing their two-year-old daughter Kayleigh to a terminal brain
tumour. When Kayleigh was diagnosed in December 2011, her parents took time off
work, vowing to make her last few months as special and memorable as
possible. They set up the charity to help relieve the financial pressure on
other families with a terminally ill child.
For
their first cycling sportive since 2019, the charity decided to switch the
location from Deeside to Donside, with the starting point as the Axis Centre in
Newmachar. Another change this year
was the choice of four routes of varying lengths to choose from: two family
friendly off-road routes of 11 miles and 16 miles, an open road route of 54
miles and another open road route of 90 miles. Families, individuals, and cyclists
participating for fun and taking on a personal challenge, all came together
to explore the new route and raise funds for the charity.
Fiona Heinonen, KWS CEO, said: “We’ve had fantastic feedback
from the event, with people of all ages and fitness levels enjoying the event.
It worked so well that we plan to keep the same route for next year and
increase capacity to accommodate even more keen cyclists. We’d also
like to express our huge thanks to all the venues, Axis Centre in Newmacher,
Dunavon Hotel in Dyce and both Premnay and Midmar halls. What’s more, our
amazing band of volunteers made sure that everything ran smoothly and safely on
the day – we’re very grateful for their support.”
KWS has also recently launched tickets for their dinner and
dance at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Tickets are £70 and tables of 10 are £700. The evening will include a three-course
meal and dancing to award winning Scottish band, ‘Splendid Gentlemen’, where
there will also be an auction. The event will start at 7pm with Huntly Pipe
Band welcoming guests to the hotel. If you would like to purchase tickets for
the night, or donate prizes for the auction, please visit our website: Million Pound Ball - Kayleigh's Wee
Stars (kayleighsweestars.co.uk)
Jonathan Cordiner, KWS Co-Founder and Kayleigh’s dad, said,
“The cycle was a fantastic day – there was a great buzz, everyone was delighted
to be back after the hiatus of the last few years, and we raised a fantastic
sum of money. We are always so thankful to our volunteers, and the participants
who come along to our events - because of them we can continue to support families
across Scotland at the
most traumatic time in their lives.
“We recently exceeded our fundraising target of £100,000.
This means that we can continue to support families who are caring for a
terminally ill child. At this most harrowing time in their lives, our support
can alleviate some of the financial pressure, and help courageous children and
their families to make precious memories together.”
To find out more about the dinner and dance,
please contact: fiona@kayleighsweestars.couk.