A FUNDRAISING campaign to take military veterans from the Borders to an Armed Forces memorial has received a big donation.

The Riders Branch Legion Scotland has put forward £2,000 for the trip to the Arboretum, near Lichfield in Staffordshire.

Motorcyclists from number six district, which covers the Borders, raised the cash from a series of events.

Border Telegraph: District 6 B L Bikers with cheque presentation Photo Alwyn Johnston District 6 B L Bikers with cheque presentation Photo Alwyn Johnston

And on Saturday, Riders rep Kenny Syme handed over the cheque to volunteers Norrie Tait and Andy Dunlop at the British Legion in Galashiels.

Kenny said: “We raised the money from events such as coffee morning and we also had stalls at the Scottish Bike Show and Peebles Highland Games.

“We were aware of the fundraising campaign to take veterans to Arboretum next year and decided to donate to that cause. So I handed over the cheque at the Legion last Sunday.”

Volunteer/organiser and veteran Mr Tait, 67, who joined the Royal Signals as a boy soldier in 1971 and served in a number of roles, added: “We are hoping to hire and fill a 52-seater bus to travel to Arboretum next September.

“The fundraising campaign has just started so to receive a cheque for £2,000 from the BL Riders was just fantastic.

Border Telegraph: District 6 B L Bikers with members of the British Legion Photo Alwyn Johnston District 6 B L Bikers with members of the British Legion Photo Alwyn Johnston

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved and hope they will be able to join us on the trip and also come to our Christmas lunch.

“The trip is open to everyone that has served in the forces.”

Norrie currently organises veterans’ breakfasts at the Galashiels British Legion which attracts 25 to 30 members and these have proved so successful that other events are held in Hawick, Duns and Coldstream.

Members will be marching from the British legion building in Park Street to the town’s war memorial on Remembrance Sunday to lay a wreath in memory of the fallen. The event is scheduled for 12.20pm.