Members of Fife’s fly fishing community have proved that ‘any fin’ is possible after landing a bumper batch of coffee machines and pods for the region’s NHS heroes.
There was nothing fishy about Craig and Rachel Scott’s idea to raise funds to boost staff morale at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital, with many keen anglers digging deep to ensure that their fundraising drive certainly would not flounder.
Despite lockdown having a significant effect on their own business, Craig and Rachel, who own and run Raith Lake Fly Fishery on the outskirts of Kirkcaldy, brought the region’s fly fishing community together as part of the fishery’s Hot Drinks For Heroes appeal to show their appreciation of the hard work, dedication and selfless commitment of NHS staff every day – particularly during the current pandemic.
Such was the response, they were able to hand over 10 instant hot drinks machines and more than 4,000 drink pods to NHS Fife over the weekend, which will now be shared out between various departments.
“We appreciate that every staff members in the NHS has a vital role to play,” the pair said.
“Therefore we would like our donation to be shared within the following departments, that maybe otherwise overlooked by charitable donations during these challenging and demanding times.”
Craig and Rachel’s letter to staff highlighted their desire for the donations to be shared out with the ambulance depot, porters/domestic staff, security, the Victoria Hospice, the Ravenscraig Ward, mortuary staff, the Maggie’s Centre, accident and emergency and other support staff.
Anglers across the country will be keen to see fisheries open back up soon, with culture secretary Oliver Dowden suggesting at Westminster last week that he would press the case for outdoor leisure pursuits such as angling, bowling and golf with the Prime Minister and the Cobra emergency committee, which is looking at lockdown easing strategies, if there was evidence that facilities could reopen safely.
“In respect of all sports, I want us to ease restrictions as quickly as we are able to, but that has to be consistent with the public evidence and guidance,” he added.
