Community / Eighty-five year old preparing for remarkable Viking Genes fundraiser
A PENSIONER from Tresta is taking on a special sailing trip in a 100-year-old fishing boat to raise money for the Viking Genes community screening project.
Robert Anderson, 85, will be joined by two other local men – giving the three a combined age of 250 years.
They will take Robert’s century old vessel Pentland Skerries on a historic fishing trip from the Skeld marina later this summer in a bid to fundraise for Viking Genes.
Anderson rebuilt Pentland Skerries from the keel-up during lockdown in Tresta, and has owned the vessel for more than 30 years.
He brought it from Orkney, where its original purpose was an open boat transferring keepers to the Pentland Skerries lighthouse.
A £1 million fundraising drive was launched by Viking Genes for a groundbreaking genetic screening programme last month.
The aim is to identify anyone from the island communities with a higher genetic risk of developing a number of life-threatening conditions, with the focus on prevention.
The hope is to screen 5,000 Shetlanders.
Anderson said they would be “hoping for some fine weather” get off fishing to support the community screening effort.
“The work they have done in finding folk with heart conditions or cancer is so important,” he said.
“We are doing this to benefit the younger generation coming up so they can be screened and learn if they may be carrying a health risk.”
Viking Genes Shetland chairwoman Sandra Laurenson said this was a “truly wonderful endeavour” being undertaken by Anderson and his friends.
“It means so much to see how Viking Genes is connecting with people who are keen to see the roll out of community screening which can enable beneficial preventative healthcare.”
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
