Community Involvement

Marafun

Elgin Rotary club were the originators of this "first in the world" City Centre Relay Marathon. The format has 120 teams of 5 runners (600 runners) each of whom runs 5.2 miles in relay to make up the 26 miles 385 yards marathon distance. Since its inception in 1991 the Marafun has caught the imagination of runners and spectators alike and has become a biennial event through popular demand raising over £400,000 for various charities in the process.

Both the serious and fun side of the Marafun are represented above.

Elgin Rotarians celebrate what they achieved during the 2007 Bells Rotary Marafun.

History of the Marafun

14th June 1991 - This saw the "first in the world" City Centre Relay marathon and is the format with which we are all familiar with. Norco opened their new store and proved a very welcome and generous sponsor. £25,000 was raised for charity and Marafun as we know it was born.

20th June 1993 - Norco had disappeared from the scene and we were all very grateful to welcome United Distillers as our main sponsor. A further donation of £1,000 was received from a mysterious "Elgin Loon". The course record of 2 hours 21 mins 12 secs was set by Moray Road Runners. £44,679.00 was presented to the "Moray Scanner Appeal".

4th June 1995 - Bell's Rotary Marafun was launched with Bell's Whisky providing sponsorship of £10,000. Wonderful weather saw Elgin High Street packed with thousands of spectators. The major benefactor was the "Moray Scanner Appeal" with £53,000 from the Marafun.

1st June 1997 - Once again Bell's were the major sponsor with another donation of £10,000 plus all the support of the UD offices in Elgin and elsewhere. There was a record entry of 700 runners and £53,262.00 was raised for the Princess Royal Trust for Carers" with 15 other charities raising a further £3,000 on the day.

6th June 1999 - Runners demand another Marafun and Bell's come up trumps for the fourth time with a £10,000 sponsorship deal. Over £50,000 was presented to "The Moray Appeal for Cancer Relief"

3rd June 2001 - A strong field yet again with Bell's sponsors of the event, making it 4 in a row, to the tune of £10,000. The Rotary Hospice Appeal was the major benefactor, receiving £57,168.00

1st June 2003 - Once again Bell's sponsored the event, The Rotary Hospice Appeal being the major benefactor receiving £50,000.00.

5th June 2005 - A capacity field of 120 teams took part and with the continued generous support of Bell's, raised £66,176.00 for local charities.

3rd June 2007 - Yet another very successful event was organised with £63,823 being raised.

Since 2005 saw Rotary celebrate it's Centenary, Elgin Rotarians decided to distribute the money raised amongst 100 local charities, a decision greatly appreciated by the community.

A primary school fun run was introduced which proved so successful that it is to be repeated during Marafun 2007.

Sums Raised to Date:

Bothy Ballads

2007 saw the Elgin Club celebrate its 25th Anniversary of the Bothy Ballads where the winners and runners-up from the major competitions throughout Scotland turned up to compete in the "King of the Bothy Ballads" Competition.

Each year since its inception, a capacity audience of 750 people from throughout the North of Scotland pack the Elgin Town Hall to enjoy this unique competition which does so much to retain and develop the singing culture of life on the farms of yesteryear.

Elgin Rotarians are proud to boast of serving 750 helpings of stovies and drams in the world record time of 7 minutes 46 seconds, beating their previous record by almost 1o minutes.

On the 2nd February 2008 The Bothy Ballads raised £4,000 for Club projects.

Elgin Rotarians prepare for the Bothy Ballads sponsoredby The Macallan

International Night

In order to fund undertakings of a more International nature the club organises an International Night. Club members and others are entertained and fed "tit-bits" from around the world. Funds in the past have been used, among other things, to finance a programme bringing young doctors from Romania to spend time in Dr Grays hospital in Elgin and overseas developments including Water Aid & Sanitation projects in Nepal. Elgin Rotarians visited Nepal to provide much needed hands-on support.

Christmas Collection

Each year Elgin Rotarians raise over £6000 by shaking collection cans in the High Street and at various supermarkets and stores in the town. Bag packing in Asda and Marks & Spencers is another very successful and popular way in which the Club raises funds. All the money raised is distributed by the Club to local charities.