With Christmas on the horizon, it’s time for the popular Silent Auction run annually by the Rotary Club of Perth in partnership with the Perthshire Advertiser.
The main beneficiaries this year will be Andy’s Man Club and the Cornhill Macmillan Palliative Care Unit at Perth Royal Infirmary.
Regular backers, The Cameron Group, are again supporting the fundraiser.
The auction goes live online today at www.perthsilentauction.co.uk and already generous businesses and individuals have been offering support with donations of lots to go under the hammer on Saturday, December 10.
Rotarian and auction co-ordinator David Lindsay noted that this is the 14th fundraiser, with more than £400,000 generated for good causes down the years.
“We had to put the Silent Auction on hold when the pandemic struck but last year we decided to bring it back with a softly-softly approach,” he said.
“We were amazed when it generated more than £18,000.
“But perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, the support and enthusiasm from the community for the Silent Auction has been there right from the start.
“We support a range of excellent charitable causes and many have suffered locally from their traditional methods of fundraising being restricted because of the pandemic.”
The Cornhill Centre has been supported every year by Rotarians.
This year, the other key beneficiary will be Andy’s Man Club, which meets weekly at McDiarmid Park and allows men to talk through issues and help care for their mental health.
The Perth club is one of more than 100 which have been created across the UK since 2016, letting men know “It’s Okay to Talk.”
“The club came to our attention a year ago when its role in the community was highlighted by Alex McClintock when he was speaking at one of our lunches,” said David.
“He was simply spreading the word but members were impressed with the work the club does. In the wake of the pandemic, and the lockdowns, there’s no doubt support is very much needed in the mental health sector.
“We have supported Cornhill from the outset and there can’t be many families across Perth and Kinross who haven’t known someone who has benefited from the compassionate care they provide.
“The donations from the Silent Auction have helped the Macmillan team spread awareness of palliative care to health and social care professionals working in the local community and hospitals.”
With lots already flooding in, Rotarians are eager to welcome support from regular and new donors.
“We appreciate that the country is facing economic difficulties but that means support for mental health charities is going to be even more important,” said David.
“We also know that the charities which benefit from the Silent Auction make the most of every penny that they receive.”
To donate and lodge bids see www.perthsilentauction.co.uk.
The lots will go under the hammer from 10am on Saturday, December 10.
