An Aberdeen dive centre has raised more than £12,500 for children's hospital care.

Proprietor Jason Topley, of Aberdeen Watersports, and his wife Alison lost their four-year-old daughter Katie (pictured) to a sudden illness in August.

Determined to turn their tragic misfortune into a force for good, they launched a campaign to raise money for Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, which treats some 8000 in-patients and 51,000 out-patients each year.

The impressive sum, which goes to the hospital's ARCHIE Fund, has been made possible by the generous reaction of diving businesses. They donated a range of equipment - including suits, BCs, regulators and computers - to be sold or raffled by the centre in aid of the campaign. Some have made cash donations.

A good third of the total - some £4500 - was raised during a special fun diving and raffling event, suggested by staffer John McLeod and run by Aberdeen Watersports on 13 November, at Boddam Quarry near Peterhead.

"It was particularly fitting that the chosen day turned out to be Remembrance Day," Jason Topley told Divernet. "It was a beautiful, crisp November's morning, blue skies and not a breath of wind all day."

The key event was a game of crazy underwater golf. Between 30 and 40 divers enjoyed a unique round, played on carpet samples sunk in the form of a six-hole course. Clubs varied from sand-filled plastic kids' clubs and tennis rackets to clubs with custom, shark-shaped metal heads.

The diving golfers had to play, naturally enough, in fancy dress. With their pink tutus, tiaras and wands the fairies (pictured, with Jimi Hendrix) would, agreed Jason, Alison and their six-year old son Jamie, "have been Katie's favourite".

Other players included Batman and Robin, plus the girls of St Trinians whose straw boaters, when submerged, rose "six inches off their heads every time they breathed out".

Prizes were awarded for Best Team (St Trinians), Best Golf Club (the shark heads), Best Fancy Dress (Batman and Robin) and Best Cheaters (Messrs John and Pete, for tying strings to their golf balls and pulling them to their targets).

There's still a chance to win another big prize - a Scubapro MK25 first stage and X650 second stage regulator combo, worth £400 - by entering a final raffle to be drawn on Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £5 each and can be bought via the Aberdeen Watersports website (below) or by calling 01224 581313.

An account of the golf event, along with a list of the 25 concerns which donated equipment or made cash donations, is being compiled for the website.

Related links
Aberdeen Watersports website
Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital

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