Fire crew cleans cars for charity
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FIREFIGHTERS turned to washing dozens of cars to raise hundreds of pounds for two charities including one which supports bereaved families who have suffered the loss of a baby during pregnancy or stillbirth.
The event at the Beauly station raised more than £800 on the day although money is still coming in.
It will be split evenly between the Fire Fighters Charity and Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA) which is a cause close to the heart of watch manager Malcolm Hannah.
His grandson, Ollie Ian Harrison, was stillborn last month at 24 weeks into the pregnancy.
Unbeknown to him, the 10-strong retained crew decided to raise funds for SiMBA whose work includes gifting memory boxes for bereaved families to place mementos such as a blanket or hand and foot prints .
It also has a life-sized sculptured Tree of Tranquillity in the Inverness Botanic Gardens where bereaved parents can attach personally engraved leaves in memory of their babies.
Mr Hannah described the day-long fundraiser organised by the crew as a "fantastic" gesture which had been held in memory of baby Ollie.
"I was not involved personally," he said.
"The firefighters felt it was totally the right thing to do because it was so close to their hearts, too.
"I knew nothing about SiMBA previously. It is only when you are in that situation that you find out it is there waiting to help families."
SiMBA also organises an annual butterfly release at the Inverness Botanic Gardens.
Families are invited to remember their babies by releasing specially-bred butterflies into the wild.
In addition, it runs a support group for families.
The Fire Fighters Charity helps current and former fire and rescue service personnel plus their dependents.
Services range from offering advice and information to rehabilitation and recuperation programmes as well as a child and family programme for those with special care needs.
