A fundraising campaign to bring an outdoor athletics track to Angus has “exceeded all expectations”.
Since the campaign was launched in October more than £25,000 has been raised.
However, there’s still a long way to go as the total cost for the state-of-the-art facility is likely to exceed £1m.
Angus is one of only two local authorities in Scotland which doesn’t have an all-weather athletic track.
The Angus Athletics Arena campaign is being spearheaded by two Arbroath mums, Vicky Graham and Cherise Whamond, who are working with Arbroath and District Athletics Club, which has been looking into an outdoor track for several years.
Large donations have been received from several trusts – WC Anderson Trust (£10,000), Colin Grant Charitable Trust (£5,000), Aberbrothock Skea Charitable Trust (£2,000) and the Iris Spink Trust (£210).
There have also been a variety of fundraising events in Angus, including a zumba night, Arbroath yomp and a cockroach race night.
Arbroath scouts handed over the proceeds of their Christmas card delivery and Cherise raised around £1,000 by running the London Marathon earlier this year.
Lynda Sim, of Arbroath and District Athletics Club, said: “We are delighted by the generosity of the Angus people.
“Managing to raise so much money in around six months has exceeded all our expectations.
“I think people are now aware of our plans to bring an all-weather athletic facility to the area and seem to be very supportive.”
In the past a survey by Angus Council was conducted on feasible sites throughout Angus and a site was identified at Arbroath High School.
The group has several other applications in to trusts and are hopeful of receiving some funds from Angus Council’s community grant scheme.
Meanwhile the group has organised a competition among primary school pupils to design a logo for the campaign.
The design by primary seven Hayshead pupil Caitlin Collins was selected as the winner for her logo which featured a runner.
The winner was announced at Arbroath High School by Arbroath councillors David Fairweather and Donald Morrison, who are also backing the campaign.
AJ Beedie Jewellers donated a trophy for the winner and medals for the four runners up – Ross Milne (Carmyllie), Sophia Herald (Arbirlot), Grace Waldie (Inverbrothock) and Hannah Swankie (Inverbrothock).
Lynda added: “We felt Caitlin’s design summed up what we are trying to achieve.
“It was fantastic to see all the different designs for a logo to represent our Athletic Arena.
“The children put so much effort into them and there were many amazing ideas. It was very difficult to choose a winner.”
