A five-strong crew made up of HND Media students, helped a fundraising teenage piper to make a film to promote his exceptional charity donation.
During the pandemic lockdown Dollar Academy pupil Max Rae (15), piped for 100 days in a row in the streets of Bridge of Allan, to raise £12,900, enough money to keep Strathcarron Hospice services running for a full day.
The enthusiastic film-makers captured Max playing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ with Stirling Castle as a back-drop on December 18, 2020, and Strathcarron Hospice used the film to bring in the bells on Hogmanay and announce that Max’s donation had paid for the charity to run for the entirety of New Year’s Day 2021.
Through Jasmin Hodge – FVC’s Learning Technology Coordinator – the idea of a possible film was raised before Christmas and the College’s Creative Industries Department took control.
Lecturer Emma Macnair was asked by Curriculum Manager Fi Milligan-Rennie, if it was something her students could do and she put together a team. The students involved were mainly made up of HND Media second years: Natasha Gray, Joe Smith, Rhys Mason and Shaun Conner, but also included Samuel Loaiza a first year from the same course.
Emma, said: “Max helped to lift the spirits of the community. He was also being asked to pipe at celebrations – birthdays, weddings etc. This is when he started to fundraise as people were donating money for these events.
“Max and his dad John Rae – who is part of the Bridge of Allan Round Table – had raised money for several charities over the years and they decided to start raising money for Strathcarron Hospice, and they were aware that it is rare for a donation to be made that pays for a full day at Strathcarron, especially by a boy of 15 years.
“Fi, my Curriculum Manager, got in touch with me to ask if this project was something that we could do. I thought it sounded interesting and the prospect of being able to film at the Castle with the students and create a film for a charity appealed.
“I chose the students that I wanted to be involved due to their commitment, enthusiasm and talent they have shown throughout the year in the film-making classes. The students jumped at the chance and immediately started to plan for the shoot and I am very proud of them all. Max’s Dad was particularly impressed with their professionalism on the day.”
The film was posted on Strathcarron’s Facebook page and an interview with Max was posted on New Year’s Day. They used the videos as a way to promote Max’s fundraising effort and to try and boost these to get to the £12000 – which was exceeded in the end.
Max, said: “When lockdown was announced my dad and I thought it would be good idea for me to pipe each night in our area to hopefully cheer people up during lockdown, and this would also help my piping. As a proud member of the Dollar Academy Juvenile Pipe Band, who are current World Champions, I was aware that we would possibly not have any competitions to play due to Covid, practising was therefore quite a good idea.
“When I got to around 25 nights of playing, I had already started playing at birthday celebrations and anniversaries after offering my services through Bridge of Allan Cares. I ‘Surprise Piped’ people celebrating in their gardens and outside their homes, with donations being made to Strathcarron Hospice. At this point we opened a fund raising page ‘Max the Piper’ with a target of £2,000.
“We then decided then that we would aim for 100 nights of piping in a row, which I am pleased to say I achieved. I also played at nearly 50 celebrations last year which was great fun. I never, ever thought that I would raise anything like the £12,900 which we eventually aimed for.
“To be asked by the hospice to make a video to bring in the New Year was very special indeed and to be filmed by such talented and professional students, was not only good fun even though it was raining, but also very interesting.
“Natasha Gray and her fellow students were so good, very well organised, creative and professional in every way. They had obviously thoroughly planned what they were looking to create prior to coming to Stirling Castle. I really liked both the videos they produced and I know my dad who works in conferences and events at the Castle was highly impressed with their professionalism.
“I am very pleased that I will finish up having raised over £15,000 in total and I cannot thank people enough for their kindness and support for Strathcarron Hospice. It really has been a privilege to bring some happiness into people’s lives during Covid 19. I have so many happy memories to look back on and I hope be able to help Strathcarron Hospice again in the future if I can.”
Max’s father John, said “I have worked in the events and conference sector at a high level for many years and I can truthfully say, that the media students from Forth Valley College did themselves proud filming Max in pretty challenging conditions, at Stirling Castle in December.
“They conducted themselves incredibly well and under the direction of Emma and Natasha, produced two very good videos indeed. Everyone who has viewed them was not only impressed, but quite moved by the sound of the bagpipes in the superb setting of Stirling Castle. The whole crew have every reason to be very proud of what they achieved."
Claire Kennedy, NHS Community Fundraiser, from Strathcarron Hospice, said: “The films were fantastic over Hogmanay and New Year and we were delighted Max was able to pay for - and then some! - New Year's Day at Strathcarron Hospice, it's an incredible achievement. The films were such a great way of showcasing Max's talents and highlighting what an incredible amount of time and effort has gone in to his fundraising.
“Pay for the Day target is £12,900 which covers all our services in the Hospice as well as out in the community across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, for a full day. We are very grateful to Max and his family for all the commitment and support for our work and to the Forth Valley College staff and students involved in the making of the films.”
If anyone wishes to donate to the Strathcarron Hospice, Max’s page is still open and the link is https://bit.ly/MaxthePiper
