‘Humbled by the generosity’ – genetics project reaches major fundraising milestone
A GROUNDBREAKING genetic screening project has reached a major fundraising milestone in its mission to screen up to 5,000 Shetlanders.
Viking Genes Shetland has now raised over £100,000 towards its £1 million target, which will help it to deliver a pioneering programming to screen the Shetland community for various diseases.
By testing a number of genetic variants more common in the Shetland population, the project will identify individuals at increased genetic risk of developing serious health conditions.
People who are identified as being at risk will then be supported to get the appropriate NHS care.
In addition, the programme will also highlight individuals who may not be directly affected themselves but who carry an elevated chance of passing certain genetic conditions to their children.
The fundraising mission was launched in May last year, with the project now passing the £100,000 stage after a number of large donations in recent months.
Viking Energy’s Shetland Community Benefit Fund recently donated £15,000, while a £25,000 contribution from the North Yell Development Council has been the largest single contribution so far.
A gathering of more than 100 descendants and spouses of the Sutherland family of Voe raised around £1,000 for the Viking Genes project in September last year.
Charity shops across the isles have also contributed generously, including £10,000 from Shoard in Whalsay and £5,000 from Aith charity shop.
Others have taken to raising money in more novel ways. Four fishermen with a combined age of 310 took a 100-year-old boat off for a day of fishing last July, raising over £2,500 in the process.
And small groups of supporters have organised grassroots activities to raise funds, including gigs by the Paves, musical theatre nights, Christmas carol concerts, the Leith lasses Halloween event, Sharon Deyell’s swapshop and Da Wastside Smiles fun run and Laura Wishart and friends’ charity auction, which raised over £15,000.
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A voluntary committee of Shetland community leaders, chaired by Sandra Laurenson OBE, has played a vital role in driving the fundraising effort.
Professor Jim Flett Wilson, who leads the Viking Genes programme at the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said he was “constantly amazed and humbled by the generosity and dedication of Shetlanders”.
“I’m very excited that we’ve passed the £100,000 barrier, but am aware there is still some way to go,” he said.
“The Shetland Community Screening Project will improve community health and wellbeing, save lives and put Shetland at the forefront of preventative medicine in the UK.
“The strong community support for the project is vital and I would like to thank all our donors, but particularly Sandra Laurenson and everyone else who has been involved in fundraising, as well as Leisa Thomas and her team assisting us in Edinburgh: we couldn’t do it without you.”
Viking Genes Shetland fundraising committee chairwoman Sandra Laurenson said the team was looking forward to more fundraising events in 2026.
“Our community engagements have all been positive and is heartening to have all the goodwill towards achieving the project on a scale that we aspire to,” she said.
“We are indebted to our fundraisers so far and there will be more to come throughout the year.”
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