Community / Online auction raises more than £14k for Viking Genes project
AN ONLINE auction created by a group of local volunteers has raised an impressive £14,700 for the Viking Genes research project.
Bids could be placed on more than 240 lots on Facebook over the weekend, with everything from homebakes to holiday accommodation, and knitwear to Christmas trees on offer.
The Viking Genes project, led by Professor Jim Wilson through the University of Edinburgh, has undertaken a number of health studies in the Northern Isles over recent years to explore the genetic make-up of islanders.
One of the more recent findings was an estimate that one in 40 people with Whalsay family heritage are likely to have a variant of a gene associated with a higher risk of cancer.
The team works to return results to people who have been identified with a higher risk of developing life-threatening conditions, allowing for earlier intervention and preventative surgeries.
However an appeal was launched by the project recently encouraging people to donate or fundraise to support its work.
One of the auction’s organisers Leona Wishart said the group was delighted by the amount raised – £14,713 in total.
“We’re completely overwhelmed and so pleased that it has gone so well,” she said.
Wishart said items were still being offered for donation over the weekend while the auction was ongoing.
“We couldn’t do it without the generosity and support of the community in Shetland and further afield,” she added.
“There’s people been watching and bidding from outwith Shetland. We’re just so pleased we’ve been able to generate such a lot of money for a really worthwhile cause.”
The total raised through the auction went beyond the group’s expectations, and people also have the chance to donate to a JustGiving page even if they did not win an item.
This means that the total amount raised could break the £15,000 barrier.
Wishart said the Viking Genes project is “really important to so many Shetlanders” and other island communities.
She added that the money raised locally could be ringfenced for Shetland.
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