A SHOW-stopping £52,753.64 has been raised for different charities by the combined efforts of the north and west regions of SAYFC over the past year.

This total has been divided between external youth groups and various charities across communities in both regions to support adult health and wellbeing, sick children, increased countryside awareness through education, mental health within the farming industry and more.

In the west, ‘Westies get on the move’, a campaign initiated by outgoing chairman Lizzie McJannet, encouraged clubs within the region to walk, swim or cycle 837 miles – the equivalent distance between Land’s End to John O' Groats.

The task was set in April 2018 to help clubs raise money for a charity (or charities) of their choice, and they more than stepped up to the challenge – organising triathlons, cycles around their club area boundaries, swimming competitions, walks, hill climbs, kilt walks and muddy races.

Collectively the SAYFC west region covered 3849 miles, raising £33,253.64 for its chosen charities.

In the north, outgoing chairman Michael Gunn challenged the seven clubs in his district to each raise £2000 for local children charities under the campaign ‘Gunnys Crusaders’.

The districts all had different ideas on how they would raise the target amount – Orkney in the far north held a Christmas Fete in their local auction mart raising £3928.89 for Orkney Heart Screening.

Other efforts included bingo nights, quizzes, slave auctions, charity leg waxing plus much more, and Michael challenged himself to raise a total of £2000 which set the bar at a total of £16,000.

The northern clubs smashed their target raising £19,500 to go towards their causes. YF districts and clubs try to stay in close contact with charities, community groups and associations in their towns and villages, to maintain a good rapport.