The cost of filling the tank is “crippling” the efforts of a dedicated band of Angus fund-raisers.
For over 15 years, Forfar’s Wilma Whyte has led her Angus Threeway Fund-raisers in a drive which has generated thousands of pounds for deserving causes.
The fruits of their 2010 campaign were handed over at a weekend presentation when representatives of Angus Cancer Care, Multiple Sclerosis and Childlink each received an equal share of the £4500 gathered during the past year.
Mrs Whyte praised her band of hard-working volunteers for their determination during difficult financial times, but admitted the cost of fuel is becoming a major issue for the group.
“We’ve been at this for so many years now that we get a lot of support from all over the area and we’re always very grateful for that,” said Wilma. “But it’s getting more difficult every year and the cost of diesel is crippling us.”
She added, “I do a lot of travelling to pick up things and then we have a caravan which one of our volunteers drives to the shows for us, but even going to places like Arbroath, Montrose and Kirrie means we use up a lot of fuel and that’s a cost we don’t need.
“It’s quite sad because we do quite a lot in the community and people are very good in supporting us, but it just makes everything so much more difficult.”
The fund-raising hard work for this year is already well under way, with charity shop opening planned soon and a prize bingo night set for Forfar’s Royal British Legion in Academy Street on March 29.