County fan's fundraiser for Kili
A ROSS-COUNTY fan will be setting Dingwall’s British Legion alight next week with the colours of the football club in a bid to raise money for poverty stricken orphans in Tanzania.
For ex-Dingwall Academy pupil Kenny Mackenzie (22) is stepping up his fundraising efforts as he prepares to climb Africa’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro in August. Kenny, who is due to graduate from Aberdeen University with a MA (Hons) on Gaelic, has been set a target of raising £2,440 by the middle of July.
And the County fan who recently featured in the BBC Alba football documentary "Eadar Duil is Dochas - Between Expectation & Hope", which followed the Club’s journey to Hampden, said once he graduated he wanted to do something worthwhile that could help make a difference somewhere before he settled down and got a full time job.
He said: "I’ve been to Kenya several times on holiday and so I thought that I’d go to Tanzania this time and help to raise money for poor and sick African children. I’ve visited Kenyan primary schools before and I know firsthand, just how far reaching is the poverty within small communities in Kenya and Tanzania."
He added: "I thought that perhaps combining my passion for football with fundraising would be an interesting and more unusual way of raising the funds that I need to have raised to actually get to Africa. It is now over a year since Ross County’s fantastic achievements and I wanted Dingwall to relive some of that excitement and passion so I’ve managed to get Dingwall British Legion to donate me the hall for an evening of Ross County Quiz Fun and Games. I’m really hoping that all local Staggies fans will come along to the evening and show us just how much they know about the team, perhaps win a rather nice souvenir and have a good evening at the same time."
The "Ross County for Kili" night will take place in the Legion on Friday July 8 at 8pm and Ross County themselves have donated several items which will be raffled on the night.
The team have given me a signed football, a signed copy of the book "From Highland League to Hampden" and some club T-shirts amongst other items to raffle. There will also be a quiz where fans will be able to compete against each other to show their knowledge of the teams history. Well known band "The Relatives" from Morayshire will make an appearance and provide music after the quiz. All the profits will go to the Charity and hopefully make a real difference.
Local Councillor Margaret Paterson said: "Despite the current financial climate, we are actually very lucky here in Ross-shire in comparison to other parts of the world. Children here have an education, food and healthcare which are real luxuries in places like Tanzania. Childreach International does tremendous work in making life better for children in Africa and it is heartening that our own young people want to help make a difference. I hope that local people will turn out to help Kenny in his valuable endeavour, and have a great time in the process".
"Ross County for Kili" kicks off at 7pm, till midnight and teams of three for the quiz are invited to register at kenny.childreach@hotmail.co.uk. £10 entry fee. Single tickets at the door £5.
