Ythan Cycle Club held their AGM at the Station Hotel Ellon on Monday 28 March 2011 and invited inspirational ANCHOR unit patient Andrew Cooper along to talk about how he has coped with living with Leukaemia since he was diagnoised Christmas 2008. Club members were very interested to hear how Friends of ANCHOR have helped Andrew and a collection was made with £170 raised.

Friends of ANCHOR would like to thank Andrew and all the members of the Ythan Cycle Club for their generosity and kindness.

Pictured: Andrew Cooper being presented with the collection for the charity by Ythan Cycle Club member, Fiona Duncan after his talk.

Thomas Gray, Aberdeen, known as Tommy, was born in 1921 and on the 19th of March 2011 celebrated his 90th birthday with a party held by his family members and friends at The Transport Club, Canal Road, Aberdeen, which he throughly enjoyed especially seeing some of his friends he hadn't seen for many years. Tommy puts his youthful appearance and fitness down to hard work but also his love of life, his family and his friends. He had many jobs throughout his working life and despite being partially sighted from a childhood accident he was proud to have completed 5 years national service in his twenties. His last job before retiring was with Hall Russell Ship Builders. Tommy is still as bright as a button with a great sense of humour and sense of fun and is well liked by all who know him young and old. He was in his day a top dominoes player and won many trophies over the years, but sadly he has had to withdraw from the league team recently due to his failing eye sight. Tommy was widowed some 23 years ago and has since lived independantly on his own although he does get a weekly delivery of his favourite meals from his lovely niece, Chris.

Tommy decided before his party that he would like his guests to make a donation to Friends of ANCHOR if they wished in lieu of of buying him a birthday present as he felt the money would be put to good use and in the past many of his family and friends have been treated at the ANCHOR unit.

Congratulations Tommy on your 90th birthday and thank you and your guests for your thoughfulness, generosity and donation of £300. We hope the year ahead brings you good health and great happiness and here's to many more birthdays!

Kind hearted Fraserburgh woman Sandra Morrice has raised an amazing £8,500, by organising a variety of fundraising events throughout 2010/11. Sandra wanted patients at ARI to benefit from the funds she has raised with a share of the proceeds going to Friends of ANCHOR £4,000, Ward 40 – neurology £4,100 and NHS prosthesis services £400...

Graeme Findlay and Sandy Cartney from Strichen also helped boost Sandra’s total by cycling from Inverness to Rosehearty and raised an amazing £2289.50. Although it was challenging the boys have not been put off and are at present planning their next gruelling cycle.

Sandra a dedicated fundraiser was nominated and subsequently awarded in the Charity category as one of Aberdeen's Champions by North-east newspaper, Evening Express, following a regional search for ordinary people who do extraordinary things in 2008.

Friends of ANCHOR would like to thank Sandra, Graeme and Sandy for all their hard work, energy and time spent in raising this fantastic amount and would also like to thank all their generous sponsors and supporters.

S1 pupils from Ellon Academy  held a presentation lunch on Thursday 24 February 2011 and handed cheques to three local charities; Friends of ANCHOR, CHAS (children's hospice association)  and NEWARC (North East Wildlife & Animal Rescue Centre). The fundraising stars raised the money by taking part in a variety of sponsored activities including walks, runs and cycles.

We would like to thank all the pupils for their fantastic efforts, we would also like to thank all the Ellon Academy staff who helped with the events and last but certainly not least we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored the pupils.