Gnomes from Dr Gray's Hospital set free again for Outfit Moray
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YOU can’t keep a good gnome down - not even a pandemic can keep them locked down for good.
The Dr Gray’s charity gnomes are on the loose again after two years in hibernation.
And they are raising money for a charity which provides outdoor activity opportunities for children and adults in Moray.
The nurse practitioner team at Dr Gray’s Hospital raised more than £15,500 for Alzheimers three years ago.
“We’ve got lots of gnomes,” said Trish Bury, a mental health nurse, “and people can borrow a gnome and take it anywhere and give us a donation.
“If they take it abroad, send us a postcard. We have made up lots of stories about the gnomes.
“We stopped because of Covid. They have all got names. At the moment we have seven but we had 50 the last time but we sold them all off.
“Every single penny raised will go to Outfit Moray.”
The gnomes even have their own Facebook page - facebook.com/drgraysgnomes/ where you can find out more about their adventures and book out one of the little friends.
Karen Cox, of Outfit Moray, based in Lossiemouth, said: “This is brilliant and a great way of engaging with people and helping raise our profile. The young people especially will enjoy something like this.”
Outfit Moray have involved their own mascot bear Belay (a climbing term).
“He is donated to us by School Bears UK and he has clones and they are sold and all have their own names.
“He has his own Facebook and Instagram and he goes out on adventures with the young people.
“Young people who are anxious about taking part in an activity are given a Belay Bear and it gives them something to focus on, and it will help their confidence. Every child that goes on a residential trip gets to take a bear home with them as a reminder.
“We are hugely grateful to the Dr Gray’s team. One of the gnomes came to a quiz night and they will be going out on adventures with the instructors.”