Superheroes, a giant penguin, Angus the Bull and other costumed do-gooders joined forces today (Wednesday, February 6) to help rescue Aberdeen’s Torcher Parade.
The annual student fundraising extravaganza is under threat due to a lack of sponsorship for the 2008 event – due to take place on Saturday, April 26.
Donations are set to be at least 50% down from last year if new sponsorship is not found to cover the running costs of the parade, a feature of the Granite City calendar since 1889.
Each year over 45 decorated lorries and 2000 costumed students armed with collection buckets snake their way through the crowd-lined city streets.
But without a sponsor, unavoidable costs like materials and street cleaning will have to be paid for out of the monies raised, slashing the amount of cash donated to charity.
Clare Hobson, the Vice President Charities for Aberdeen University Students' Associations said: "The Torcher Parade, in addition to being one of the biggest fundraising events for the Students' Charities Campaign, is also a deeply rooted Aberdeen tradition and one which relies almost completely on the generosity of the North-east public and businesses.
"We are hoping to make £15,000 from the Parade this year and in order to do this, our outgoing costs need to be reduced or subsidised as much as possible. Torcher is part of the Students' Charities Campaign fundraising efforts throughout the year and all money raised stays within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to help local people"
While sponsors are sought, the Student Charities Committee is working hard to make sure Torcher 2008 goes ahead. Fancy dress school collections will be held today (Wednesday, February 6) across Aberdeen and the Shire. And a poster competition to create the design for all future Torcher promotions has also been launched in schools to generate extra interest in the annual parade.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 2008 Torcher Parade please contact Shannon Tubby, Events and Fundraising Coordinator for Aberdeen University Students' Association on href="mailto:s.tubby@abdn.ac.uk" title="mailto:s.tubby@abdn.ac.uk">s.tubby@abdn.ac.uk</a> or 01224 272982
For more information on the Charities Campaign please visit: http://www.ausa.org.uk/student-development/charities/
For more information on Aberdeen University Students' Association please visit: