EDINBURGH businesses have teamed up with the OMNi Centre to support a charity prize draw supporting Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
The entertainment facility announced its Christmas fundraising efforts in a post to social media yesterday.
Locals could be in with the chance of winning a city experience prize bundle worth over £1,500 by entering the draw.
Giraffe statues Martha and Gilbert, which stand tall outside the centre on Picardy Place, have also been “yarn bombed” with charity hats and scarves to raise awareness.
Entries cost £5 and can be submitted until 31 December, with all proceeds going to CHAS.
Visitors can also “tap to donate” at contactless points within the centre.
The charity, founded in 1992, provides care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The grand prizes in the bundle include a two-night stay at The Glasshouse, a £400 shopping voucher, a bus and tram travel pass and a £100 Vue Cinema voucher, amongst others.
The black metal giraffe statues can be seen decked out in grey and yellow striped hats and scarves featuring the charity’s colourful logo.
A trio of knitters from Scottish Borders-based companies Teviotdale Arans and Teviot Knitwear came together to deliver the special accessories in time for Christmas.
4,200 metres of yarn was used just for the larger giraffe’s scarf, enough to run 40 times the length of the pitch at Murrayfield stadium.
It took two and a half hours to produce by machine, with the matching hat painstakingly knitted by hand in four hours, after some trial and error getting it to fit the statue’s head and ears.
Martin Botha, OMNi Edinburgh Centre Manager, said: “Christmas is always an important time of year for us at OMNi, but this year feels extra special due to so many local businesses joining forces to try and make a real difference for such an important charity.
“A special thanks to the wonderful knitters, our Christmas decorations installation team Blachere Illumination, and prize donors The Glasshouse, Lothian, Edinburgh Street Food, Vue, Royal Yacht Britannia and The Edinburgh Dungeon.
“You have all been imperative to making our Christmas plans possible, and we’re thrilled to have you involved.”
CHAS charity representative Sarah Dannfald, said: “We’re so pleased that CHAS is at the heart of OMNi’s Christmas activity this year.
“Seeing so many local businesses come together to support our charity has been overwhelming.
“The fundraising enables us to provide palliative care, family respite and support throughout Scotland, through our hospices, home care services and hospital presence.
“We’d like to thank everyone who’s involved, your efforts are very much appreciated.”
Speaking today, Allan Godfrey from Teviot Knitwear said: “We were really grateful for the opportunity to donate our time and effort to such a fantastic cause, and a Scottish one at that.”
