Keith resident Trisha Davidson has donated over £7,500 to Friends of Roxburghe House, following a Christmas party fundraiser held in memory of her brother Neil.
Fundraising success
Trisha is a fundraising powerhouse, having raised over £110,000 in the past 15 years through her popular “Trisha Davidson’s Strawberry Teas” and other charity events.
It all started back in 2010 when she held her first strawberry tea in her garage for family and friends, raising a respectable £426. She kept on going – raising over £113,000 for Breast Cancer Now on the way – and in 2024 her events raised a total of over £27,000.
The success has grown so much that they welcomed First Minister John Swinney to last year’s strawberry tea and Trisha also attended the King’s Garden Party at Holyrood Palace, pictured below with her husband Harold.
She holds strawberry teas in June at local Netherton Farm in Keith, having carried out the takeaway deliveries started during Covid the week before. Last year, she held her first ever Booze, Boots & Bingo Hoedown which was another unqualified success. Not one to rest on her laurels, she marked 15 years of fundraising by organising a 15-mile sponsored walk from Buckie to Netherton Farm in Keith.
Roxburghe support
Trisha’s dedication to Roxburghe House is deeply personal. Her brother Neil was diagnosed with cancer in June last year and sadly passed away in August at the age of 60.
“Initially he spent a few days in Roxburghe House because he was in so much pain and they couldn’t get it under control at home,” said Trisha.
“He said as soon as he went through the doors at Roxburghe, he felt calm. The team were just amazing – the nurses, the doctors, just everybody. We couldn’t say thank you enough for making him comfortable and relaxed.
“My sister-in-law Carol and her daughters got to stay with Neil and the support they received was a huge help when they were going through the most horrendous time.
“We’d never dealt with anything like that before so to have the nurses and doctors there and looking after the family as well was just so important.”
A time for giving
Following Neil’s death, Trisha organised a Christmas Party Charity Night in Longmore Hall in November which raised £15,322. The sum was split equally and donated to Breast Cancer Now and Friends of Roxburghe House.
“It was a bit of an emotional evening but it turned out to be a great success,” said Trisha.
“I have to thank everyone who came along and supported us and made it a night that we will never forget. They honestly are all so generous and we can never thank them enough, as well as everyone who gave raffles and donations.”
Trisha, accompanied by her brother's wife Carol and family, presented the cheque for £7,661 to Friends committee member Anne Brown during a visit to Roxburghe House in January.
“It was lovely to hear from Anne how Friends of Roxburghe House manage their donations by providing things to making life more comfortable for the patients and their families and also the team at Roxburghe House in Aberdeen,” said Trisha.
Trisha is making plans for a successful 2025, with a planned May fundraising hoedown a sell-out event already.
Her team is also hosting the annual strawberry teas in Keith in June - which attracted over 700 people last year - to enjoy a strawberry tea of scones with cream and jam, strawberry tarts, sponge cakes and tray bakes.
“I do have to say a huge thank you to my great team of volunteers who give up their time and help me make the strawberry teas and charity nights the great success that they are.
“I am also very much supported by my husband, daughter Tiegen and son Brodie.
“We’ll keep going and as long as we continue fundraising, we will continue to raise money for this amazing charity Friends of Roxburghe House alongside Breast Cancer Now.”
© Friends of Roxburghe House Grampian - Charity Number: SC009220
