Aberdeen Bypass construction contractor raises almost £40,000

The construction contractor for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty Project (AWPR/B-T) has raised £37,339 in just two years for 19 local charity projects.

Among the charities and organisations who have benefited are CLAN Cancer Support, the Red Cross, Camphill School, Aberdeen Cyrenians, Cornerstone, the Archie Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Maryculter Woodland Trust, Maggie’s Aberdeen and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Workers have contributed either individually or in small groups through a variety of ways, whether taking part in charity events, donating money or giving up their own time to assist good causes – workers have donated more than 500 hours of their time since 2015. Events have included cycling the length of mainland Britain, running half marathons, repairing woodland walks and even taking part in lifeboat rescue missions.

John Guild, Technical Director for the project, took part in a non-stop cycle relay from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and completed the 981-mile route in just 84 hours.

From his efforts, John raised £1,000 for Cancer Research UK and admitted: “It was challenging for everyone involved but I am delighted we helped such a good cause.”

Staff have also taken part in Christmas food delivery convoys from Balmedie to Aberdeen for local charity Aberdeen Cyrenians whilst AWPR/B-T driver Paul Cooper raised more than £1,000 for CLAN Cancer Support by dressing up as an elf and helping Santa at the Bon Accord Centre in Aberdeen.

Eight staff members helped the Maryculter Woodland Trust create a new car park for visitors and also donated waste wood and other materials for a variety of uses.

A team of 18 staff from the project also took part in one of Scotland’s toughest challenge races and raised £1,200 for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. The “Hi-Vis Heroes” competed in an outdoor endurance race at Knockburn Loch near Strachan on Deeside.

They all successfully completed the gruelling 10km course, which had 25 obstacles including mud swims and water tunnels. A total of 1,984 entrants took part in the testing race with the project’s Leon Lipphardt leading the way for the team in 1 hour, 13 minutes and 29 seconds to come a very credible 187th.

Project staff have also volunteered to help crucial life-saving organisations with Works Manager Colin McNeil joining the Aberdeen team of the RNLI.

Colin is a member of his local RNLI team in Troon and during his work in Aberdeen has been training with the city squad and taking part in missions. These included a callout to search for a missing 14-year-old boy during the night with Colin and his colleagues using parachute flares to locate the youngster safe and well on the shoreline on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Yvonne Gilfillan, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for the AWPR/B-T, said: “We are very conscious of the impact a project this size can have on the local community and we work hard to minimise that. Our staff have become part of the Aberdeen community and it is no surprise that they are delighted to help these charities and groups when they need support.”