Children’s charities score with Thorntons annual sports dinner

The annual Sports Challenge Dinner which took place this month in Dundee has raised almost £37,000 for The Yard and Children’s Aid.

The charity event organised by Thorntons Solicitors and Thorntons Investment Management, saw 300 guests go head to head in Question of Sport-style quiz rounds while raising funds for local children’s charities.

The evening featured a premier sporting line-up with hosts, rugby legend Andy Nicol and Sky Sports’ pundit Alan McInally, as well as special guest, Rangers legend and former Scotland international Ally McCoist.

Donations from guests on the night meant 50 iPads could be purchased to support children with additional learning needs, including pupils from Kingspark School in Dundee.

The Yard, which runs adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families, is currently in shared premises at Rainbow House in Dundee. They are fundraising to build a brand new, purpose-built play centre in Dundee.

Long-running beneficiary of the Sport Challenge Dinner is Children’s Aid which donates money to a variety of children’s charities across Scotland.

Craig Nicol, managing partner at Thorntons, said: “It’s been another fantastic year for Sports Challenge. £36,000 is a superb sum and makes the grand total raised £141,000 across the five years this event has been running.

“A big thank you to everyone who attended and donated on the night.”

Celine Sinclair, CEO at The Yard, said: “On behalf of all the children and families The Yard supports, we would like to say a massive ‘Thank you!’ to the Thorntons team for organising such a wonderful event and raising such a fantastic total. Thanks also go to all the guests who contributed to this fabulous fundraising effort.

“The funding will make a real difference in Dundee and the surrounding area by allowing us to support even more local disabled children and their families through our weekend family sessions. You have also helped us take an important step on our journey to creating our brand new, purpose built centre to house The Yard Dundee in the next few years.”