Sailors set to stride into Aberdeen
10/03/10
Twenty sailors from HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy's newest type 45 destroyers, which is affiliated to the City of Aberdeen, arrived in the city on Wednesday, 10 March, at the end of a 150 mile charity run from Glasgow.
The sailors were met at the finish line by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Peter Stephen and Friends of ANCHOR vice chairman Dr Andy Hutcheon.
The runners set off on Monday, 8 March from their ship's base in Govan, where it is currently being fitted before sea trials begin in May.
HMS Diamond is also affiliated to City of Coventry,
The sailors were raising money for their two chosen charities; Aberdeen-based Friends of ANCHOR [Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiography unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary] and the UHCW [University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust], neonatal unit charity.
HMS Diamond announced its affiliation to the two cities in June 2009. Every new Royal Navy ship is affiliated with two cities in the UK, one coastal city and one land locked. A charity from each city is then selected to be supported by fund raising throughout the destroyer's lifetime.
Set up in 1997, Friends of ANCHOR fund the purchase of non-NHS provided equipment for the ANCHOR unit and aims to provide additional care, comfort and support for ANCHOR patients.
The unit's support area extends throughout the North-east of Scotland and includes Orkney and Shetland. Every penny donated to the charity goes to the cause as all administration costs are covered by sponsorship from the Balmoral Group.
The Lord Provost said: "On behalf of the people of Aberdeen I am delighted to welcome the sailors of HMS Diamond to the city, and congratulate them on their splendid effort in raising money for such worthwhile causes."