Council Cancer Challenge commended at Scottish Parliament

The engaging spirit between Council colleagues who joined together for a cancer fundraising challenge and the generosity of the Orkney public have been commended in the Scottish Parliament.

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur raised a motion during September praising the efforts of all involved in the challenge which raised over £16,000 for Cancer Research UK – more than trebling the original £5k target.

In a letter to one of the challenge organisers, OIC Press Officer, Lorraine Stout, Mr McArthur wrote: I write to offer my congratulations on the OIC Cancer challenge raising a grand total of £16,206.25 for Cancer Research UK. This is a fantastic achievement, and I was delighted to see how the challenge engaged so many colleagues across the Council.

“In light of this, I thought it would be appropriate to lodge a motion in the Scottish Parliament.”

He further praised fellow organisers and Council employees, Inga Antonio and Al Holmes but also the community effort that went alongside – the 50 local businesses who supported the prize draw and the wider Orkney public for their “enormous generosity”.

Mr McArthur added in his letter: “Although the motion won’t be debated in Parliament, it will raise awareness of the OIC’s fundraising efforts and has already gathered support from MSPs across the country.”

Around 140 Council employees signed up to take part in the six-week distance challenge, which saw them walk, run and cycle 373km (the length of priority 1 roads in Orkney) from the end of June to the start of August.

There was also a prize draw held within the Council Chamber.

The Council’s interim Chief Executive, John Mundell, described the commendation as “wholly deserved” by all involved.

“I am delighted for my colleagues within the Council and for the widespread community generosity that has led to this wholly deserved national commendation. It’s wonderful to know that the community spirit that is thriving in the county has been acknowledged on the national stage.

“Now there’s a few more people who will know just how special Orkney is thanks to this Parliamentary motion, and I wholeheartedly support what Mr McArthur has said.

You can read the full motion here:  https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-05827