A fleet of kind-hearted superheroes, backed by former timelord Peter Capaldi, have helped raise more than £250,000 for the charity behind Rachel House in Kinross.
The out-of-this-world sum was beamed up for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – better known as CHAS – with a series of sci-fi and pop culture events across central Scotland.
The Thick Of It actor Capaldi – famously the 12th incarnation of Doctor Who – was praised for his appearance at February’s Capital Sci-Fi Con, where he spent several hours signing hundreds of autographs and treated fans to an acoustic rendition of David Bowie’s Star Man.
The three-day extravaganza – which also featured Star Wars actor Warwick Davis – was one of five events in Edinburgh and Falkirk organised by community superhero Keith Armour.
He joined costumed volunteers – known as Causeplayers – and families at a party in Rachel House to celebrate reaching and exceeding their £250K goal – enough to fund more than six full-time nurses.
Keith said: “I can’t believe that our events have attracted so much interest and support.
“I’m overwhelmed that we have managed to smash our fundraising target for CHAS, which cares for families who are facing the unimaginable: That their child is going to die.”
He said: “I would like to thank all of the volunteers who worked so hard in making the events a success, the supporters who travelled from far and wide to attend, and everyone else involved. Roll on Captital Sci-Fi Con 2020.”
Laura Campbell, senior community fundraiser at CHAS, added: “We can’t thank Keith and the causeplayers enough for everything they have done.
“The £250,276 they have raised equates to the cost of funding six-and-a-half full-time nurses for one whole year, or 32 full days of care at one of our hospices. It is an incredible amount.”
She said: “The team have not only worked tirelessly over the past four years to organise the extremely successful events, but they also take the time to visit families at the hospices to spread joy with their amazing costumes.
“Many of the children believe they are meeting their favourite superheroes and the looks on their faces are priceless.”
Rache House offers families palliative care and respite. CHAS also operates Robin House at Balloch.
