£8000 worth of medical equipment gifted to Caithness hospitals and surgeries
A far north support group has donated medical equipment worth more than £8000 for use in the area in the past year.
The figure was revealed at Caithness Heart Support Group's AGM at the Norseman Hotel in Wick.
Chairman Noel Donaldson thanked the public for their continued support, particularly from families who had contributed money from collections taken at funerals of their loved ones.
During the past financial year, the group funded medical equipment for use throughout the county at a cost of just over £8000. The items included a defibrillator, an electrocardiograph machine, 32 blood pressure monitors, defibrillator battery and pads, as well as funding a training course for prescribing.
Mr Donaldson paid tribute to the group’s hard-working committee who were re-elected as follows: Noel Donaldson, chairman; Laird Sutherland, vice chairman; Marjorie Donaldson, secretary; and Caroline Macleod, treasurer. Other committee members - Joyce Macdonald, Robert Bell, Joan Fraser, Gladys Gunn, Elaine Rosie, Gill Simpson and Emily Fraser.
Caroline Macleod stressed that while the group had maintained a healthy bank balance, some ordered items were yet to be paid for.
She highlighted the top fundraisers during the year, a sponsored swim by group member Elaine Rosie and Basia Sandecka (£1050.39), the annual Christmas meal raffle at Mackay's Hotel, Wick (£520), and a festive coffee morning (£1102.75). The Caithness Big Band dance in the Norseman Hotel further boosted the account by £626.
Guest speakers at the AGM were Linda Smith and Jennifer Martin who gave an informative and humorous insight into "the joys of cold-water swimming".
