A children’s charity which holds camps for children with serious illnesses in Fife is facing a fight for survival.
Over The Wall, which was inspired by a project set up in the United States by actor Paul Newman, has launched an emergency fundraising to keep running after its camps at Tulliallan Castle in Kincardine were cancelled.
The cancellations have already had a severe impact on the charity’s income and its future is uncertain after 21 years of helping more than 8,000 seriously ill children and their families.
Kevin Mathieson, chief executive of Over The Wall, said: “We are launching an appeal for funding, to essentially help ensure the survival of Over The Wall and would therefore gratefully receive any support the public can offer.
“We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone but any support now would be critical in us securing the future of the charity.
“The coronavirus has had such a severe impact on our fundraising programme that we have already adopted a range of different measures in an attempt to ensure the survival of Over The Wall.
“Whilst we know the coronavirus will one day be beaten, we are unsure of the continuation of our charity.”
Since 1999, Over The Wall has provided free residential camps for children with over 130 different illnesses, with Strathallan School in Perthshire also among the venues.
The charity is already putting alternative plans in place for the children who were scheduled to attend the Fife camps in 2020 by creating an exclusive virtual programme named ‘Camp in the Cloud’.
This will be a free interactive web-based programme that brings camp directly into the home of the camper through challenges, activities and inspirational projects.
The charity is also engaging its larger audience through ‘Activity Blitz’, a project which offers activities for all children and families in lockdown to participate in at home, which currently appears on the charity’s social media platforms, three times per week.
To make a donation to help Over The Wall in its emergency appeal, go to www.otw.org.uk.
