Sailors defy age to raise thousands for Viking Genes project through fishing fundraiser
FOUR FISHERMEN with a combined age of 310 took a 100-year-old boat off for a day of fishing to raise vital funds for the Viking Genes research project yesterday (Wednesday).
Skipper Robert Anderson, 85, was at the helm of the century old Pentland Skerries as he and his crew set off under sail from Skeld marina yesterday afternoon.
Joining him on deck were fellow 85-year-old Jimmy Laing, 80-year-old Victor Gray and the “youngster” of the crew – Robert’s 60-year-old son Steven.
Speaking in advance of the feat, Anderson said the idea was to do what he did “60 or 70 years ago” and head out for a day at the fishing.
They did just that on Wednesday, sailing out on the Pentland Skerries – which Robert completely rebuilt during the Covid pandemic.
“The main thing is to raise money for Viking Genes,” he told Shetland News beforehand.
“I think about the younger generation – it’s going to be a great thing for them.”
A £1 million fundraising drive was launched by Viking Genes for a groundbreaking genetic screening programme in May, with the aim to identify anyone from island communities with a higher genetic risk of developing a number of life-threatening conditions.
The hope is to eventually screen 5,000 Shetlanders.
Robert was himself in one of the first groups who were screened previously, and said that while they did not call him back an “awful lot of folk in the West Side” did get messages about potential issues.
That spurred Robert, who has owned the Pentland Skerries for more than 30 years, to devise a unique fundraising effort for the project.
With no outboard motor, the boat – which was formerly used to transport keepers to the Pentland Skerries lighthouse – relies on the power of sail.
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And despite the wind being “very silly”, in Robert’s own words, the quartet completed a “very, very successful” trip on Wednesday afternoon after returning back to Skeld.
It took the crew around two hours to get her back in through the Skelda Voe narrows, Robert said, and he said he and his crew were “tired” and “brally sunburnt” after the voyage.
But he added they were delighted with their exploits – which yielded five mackerel, one gurnard and even an octopus, which was returned to the deep.
Viking Genes Shetland chairwoman Sandra Laurenson said they were “absolutely thrilled” that the group had completed their challenge.
“They can be very proud of their achievement, especially for demonstrating what is possible with a bit of determination,” she said.
“The magnificent, and growing, fundraiser on their Just Giving page is a real boost to the Shetland Community Screening Project at Viking Genes.
“Each screen costs £200 so this will be able to help a good number of people to have the opportunity to be screened and learn if they are at any health risk due to a genetic variant.
“It is heartening to have this support which is additional to the growing total of over £80,000 raised so far.”
Robert and his friends have already raised around £2,500 for the Viking Genes fundraiser, through online and cash donations, and people can still donate here
Additional copy by Dave Hammond.
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