Phenomenal response to Brechin Rotary charity auction

Pictured is Rotary Club president Melvin Coates (left) and Ross Allison, one of the organisers of the charity day.

A call by Brechin Rotary Club for auction prizes to help raise money for charity has prompted an overwhelming response from donors.

The club is holding a charity golf day on Sunday, April 24 to raise money for MND Scotland and had appealed for prizes for its associated auction, but the response has been so enthusiastic that the club has put it online until the end of the month to ensure it raises as much money as possible for the charity.

The appeal went out last year when the club started to organise the event, and members have since been “taken aback” by the both the generosity of donors and the interest the prizes have received.

Ross Allison, Rotarian and captain at Brechin Golf Club, which is hosting the day, said: “We are so grateful for the donations of auction items and raffle prizes. Interest in the event has hugely overtaken our expectations

“We chose to nominate MND Scotland as the event charity as past golf club champion, Aaron Souttar, has MND and we knew we would get great support from golf club member and the local community for such a worthwhile cause.”

There are more than 30 prizes, and currently there has been more than £16,000 bid across the board.

Scott Kelly, Rotary treasurer, said: “The support from individuals and the business community has been incredible.

"All of the golf holes have been sponsored and a tremendous selection of items donated, many of which are worth substantial sums, with more to come. So, we decided to put the auction online to raise as much as possible by allowing more than the 126 people booked to play a round on the day to bid on the auction prizes.”

The prizes include signed and framed Pele and Gordon Banks football shirts; selection of celebrity football tops including one from Paul Gascoigne and golf prizes including a round at Loch Lomond Golf Club with Scotland and Hearts footballer John Souttar and a luxury Turnberry golf package, including a round on the Ailsa Course and helicopter transfer.

Anyone wishing to place a bid can do so at https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/mndscotland#none. Bids close at midnight on April 30. A Hole-in-one sponsor is still being sought and anyone interested should contact Scot Kelly via the Rotary Club.