11 August, 2006

A FUND raising extravaganza the likes of which has not been seen for years is to be staged in Shetland next month.

Always known for their hard work and generosity when it comes to charitable activity, local folk have now set their sights on raising £1.5 million to supply and operate a CT scanner at Lerwick's Gilbert Bain Hospital.

The biggest fund raising event yet for this appeal has been organised for 15 September, at the Clickimin Leisure Complex where a host of local bands have offered their services for free.

Acts already booked include the Sheila Henderson Band, Matt Vinyl and May & Mackie and many others are being promised, along with "surprise acts" and "interesting collaborations".

The organisers say there will also be "a full range of other good fun fund raising initiatives" on the night, over and above the live music programme.

Davie Gardner, who is helping arrange the concert, said: "It promises to be a bit of an event and no mistake. Inevitably there will be some great music on offer, with the event format taking its lead from the incredibly successful 'Fae Shetland Tae Shetland' concerts that we used to hold a few years back.

"So all of us involved are looking forward to a great night's entertainment that will hopefully raise a fair bit of money for the vital Catscan appeal".

The local appeal was only launched in January and is already fast approaching its target, helped substantially by a pledge of £600,000 from the Shetland Charitable Trust.