Craigie
Well-Known Member
A VETERANS charity has praised generous Rangers fans set to donate £30,000 to their foundation.
Light Blues supporters had been fundraising to hire the Red Arrows for a title party flypast over Ibrox.
After the bid was refused by the RAF, the fan group have now vowed to split the £59,500 between Erskine Hospital and the Emmie Smillie Charity Foundation cancer group.
Erskine, which cares for nearly 1,000 servicemen and women each year, said they were "extremely grateful" for the cash windfall - but sent sympathies to fans over the Red Arrows blow.
Bridgeton Loyal Rangers Supporters Club said they were "gutted" the aerobatic team would not be involved in planned celebrations for the club's 55th championship.
Posting online yesterday, they said: "Unfortunately we've been informed by the squadron leader that the Red Arrows are unable to do the proposed flyby for 55.
"We know everyone will be as gutted as we are about this, but we can feel nothing but pride together for what we have achieved, raising almost £60,000 in this trying time.
"We will close the fund on Friday at midday and get the money to each charity.
"Thank you very much to everyone who has donated."
In response to the donation news, Sara Bannerman, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Erskine - based in Bishopton, Renfrewshire - saluted the wider Rangers family.
She said: “While Erskine empathise with those who contributed towards securing this visual spectacle and are sorry to hear it won’t happen, we are delighted and extremely grateful to be named as beneficiaries to part of the unused donations.
"We salute the wider Rangers family who continue to go above and beyond in their unfaltering support of our cherished veterans and thank them for their generosity.”
We told earlier how fans hoped the iconic jets would leave a trail of red, white and blue vapour in the Glasgow sky by flying over Ibrox, George Square and Bridgeton on trophy day.
RAF bosses said at the time they were considering the supporters' application.
But they added the Red Arrows usually don't perform at "bespoke non-national events" and are usually training abroad at the requested time.
Steven Gerrard's Gers are 18 points clear of Celtic with eight games left and need a maximum seven points for the title.