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Health care industry

Family of Scottish Farmer Raises £88,000 for Charity with 100-Mile Walk

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, the family of Neil Stewart, a farmer from the Borders who took his own life in June 2024, has raised £88,000 for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) with a 100-mile walk in his memory. The walk, named "100 for One" in honor of Neil's love for cricket, took place last month along the Kintyre Way and raised significant awareness for the charity's mental health support services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The family of Neil Stewart, a 60-year-old farmer from the Borders, raised £88,000 for RSABI with a 100-mile walk in his memory.
  • The walk, named "100 for One," took place along the Kintyre Way and had a particular focus on spotlighting RSABI's mental health support services.
  • Last year, RSABI's 24-hour helpline and free counseling service supported 200 calls a month, a 49% increase compared to the previous year.
  • The charity's chief executive, Carol McLaren, has praised the Stewart family for their bravery in sharing Neil's story and raising awareness about mental health in Scottish agriculture.
  • The family's fundraising effort is still open, with donations possible via JustGiving and texting 100FORONE to 70450.

Statistics:

  • £88,726.69: Final total raised for RSABI, including Gift Aid contributions.
  • £74,134.65: Amount raised for RSABI through the 100-mile walk, before Gift Aid contributions.
  • 200: Number of calls supported by RSABI's 24-hour helpline and free counseling service per month, a 49% increase compared to the previous year.
  • 116 123: Free phone number to contact Samaritans for support.
  • http://www.samaritans.org: Website to access Samaritans' support services.
  • 0800 838587: Phone number for NHS Breathing Space service.
  • http://www.justgiving.com/page/neil-thomson-1: Donation link via JustGiving.
  • 70450: Mobile number to text 100FORONE and donate £20.

Sources:

  • The Scotsman: "Farmers don't have time to tell their story": Scottish farmer plight spotlighted in night with renowned poets
  • The Scotsman: 'Life went from best to worst' - Scottish farmer on the importance of connection after tragic family loss

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