Hundreds of people turned out to support FACE (Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh) at the charity’s Christmas Fair held at the Western General’s Cancer Centre on Saturday. The event was a great success, raising over £11,000 which will go to improving the facilities for the benefit of patients and in particular, help to fund the annual trip to Lapland to see Santa Claus in his Arctic home. This year’s party includes children who have been receiving treatment at the ‘Sick Kids’ and others who sadly have lost very close members of their family.
Visitors were treated to stalls of delicious home baking as well as Christmas crafts including knitted clothes, toys and cards. A wheel of Fortune also proved popular with the chances to win donated bottles of spirits.
A silent auction included a signed James McPake Hibs jersey, the chance to be a mascot at Easter Road for the game against Celtic, a signed Rangers top, tickets for the sell-out ‘Mrs Brown’ show in Glasgow, a signed copy of Neil Oliver’s book ‘Vikings,’ Hogmanay street party tickets, and signed photographs from top golfers Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Louis Ouisthuizen.
Lothian and Borders Police motor cycle unit attended and allowed young and old alike to have their photographs taken on the high powered motorbikes. Visitors also had the chance to be pictured with a genuine Olympic Torch.
Crime writer Ian Rankin, who is a great supporter of the charity, had kindly agreed to sign personal Christmas messages on his brand new Inspector Rebus book, ‘Standing in Another Man’s Grave’ which were available at a generously discounted rate and could be collected at a later date.
Afterwards, volunteer John Macaulay told the Edinburgh Reporter: “A big thank you to everyone who came along to our FACE Christmas Fair at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre at the Western General Hospital special welcome to the children who will be travelling with us to Lapland on the 16th December.
“The magnificent sum of just over £11 thousand pounds was raised on the day which will help our aims in helping patients and families affected by cancer.”
Those wanting to read more about the Lapland trip can do so here as The Edinburgh Reporter will be travelling with the children, parents and volunteers to Lapland this year.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
