
Fraserburgh RNLI benefit from Broch Con 2
A Stormtrooper, Baylann Skoll and a Mandalorian came along with one of the Broch Con 2 organisers Ainsley Dyga and helper Mel Fitzell to the Lifeboat Station to hand over donations to Fraserburgh RNLI and the Broch Community First Responders.
Fraserburgh RNLI crew members Stephen Brown, Shane Richardson, Linzi Smart and Eilidh Sutherland received the donation from the organisers of Broch Con 2 who shared the proceeds of their recent event at Cheers Bar Fraserburgh with the Charity which Saves Lives at Sea and two other local charities, the Broch Community First Responders and the Granite City Sepsis Fund.
First Responders Frank Cassidy, John Riddoch, Alistair Brown and Douglas Ewen were also there to receive their donation (Wilma Pert and William Bowie also turned up but left quickly to answer a call out before the photo was taken).
Broch Con came about last year when a group of friends who have the mutual love of gaming, cosplay, buying unique things, meeting friends and having fun got together to create a unique event in Cheers.
‘Cosplay’ is short for ‘Costume Play’, a performance art in which the participants dress in costumes and make-up, representing characters from TV and movies, comics, video games and anime (a Japanese style of animation) In addition to creating authentic costumes, the cosplayers also act in character and are usually experts on the characters they are replicating.
Cheers was bustling and packed with superheroes including Batman and Spiderman, as well as Star Wars, Ghost Busters and other sci-fi and cartoon and fantasy characters, and created a fantastic family fun filled atmosphere.
‘Geeking out in other words!’ said organiser Ainsley Dyga ‘The stall holders all specialise in everything Sci-Fi and geeky and every one of them absolutely loved coming to Broch Con. They are all from the shire and city and each one brings something different to the event. We also had play testing games allowing young up and coming game developers the chance to try out their games and get them perfected before going on the market. So all and all it was a great day out where like minded people came together to have fun.
‘Big shout out to Dennis Forsyth and staff for letting us take over Cheers Cafe Bar for the day, it’s a brilliant place and very good of Dennis to give us free rein.
‘Also to Fraserburgh Rotary Club for coming along to feed everyone with their delicious food and they also raised money through the barbecue for their own chosen local charity.
‘As last years Broch Con was such a great event with brilliant feed back we decided to go for it and make it an annual event,’ said Ainsey Dyga ‘Raising money for local charities close to our hearts and giving like minded folk of all ages and all backgrounds a safe, friendly, happy place to be has always been first and foremost to us all in the Broch Con team. Last year we managed to raise a good bit for the Archie foundation, Fraserburgh Day Opportunities Amenity Fund and Fraserburgh Christmas lights.
‘This year we went for the Fraserburgh RNLI, Broch Community First Responders and the Granite City Sepsis Fund.
'All really worthy causes and definitely close to the Broch Con team’s hearts.
‘Each charity does a power of work and without them there would be a huge amount of lives lost. Donating to these causes no matter how much goes a long way in their efforts to keep people safe and well. As they say every penny count’
The Fraserburgh RNLI volunteers all thanked the Broch Con 2 Team and crew member Stephen Brown spoke for everyone at the station when he said ‘We can’t thank the Broch Con 2 Team enough, its very good of them to think of us and its very generous. All the money we receive goes to helping us save lives at sea’
The Broch Community First Responders were set up in 2016 by husband and wife Doug and Colleen Ewen
It is entirely voluntary and is now a registered charity.
They come under the banner of the Scottish Ambulance Service, and attend 999 calls when an ambulance isn't immediately available or they get called to assist the full time crews.
They currently have 10 active responders who make themselves available as and when they can to be called to cardiac arrest, stroke and seizure patients to name a few.
The first responders are mobilised via radio, the same as the crews are.
‘We are dependant on donations for such things as uniform, response kits, defibrillators as well as replacements. We are also trying to increase our training equipment for the responders, and to enable us to train the public in CPR, choking patients etc’ explained Doug ‘So we’re very grateful to the Broch Con 2 Team, and very much appreciate their kind donation’
The Broch Community First Responders is one of the busiest responder schemes in Scotland. They aim to have 24/7 cover, and cover an area of approx 20 square miles, so that means Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Mintlaw, and Gardenstown and everything in between. The first responders train weekly and last year the volunteers attended 375 calls. We are already at 376 calls this year to date.
At the time of their visit to the Lifeboat Station they had already attended 376 calls.
Thanks to the Broch Con 2 Team and all their supporters for their community spirit and helping such great causes and worthy local charities.
Notes to editors
Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Stephen Hadden, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Stuart Fenty, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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