Promoted: Charity's dream turns into lochside reality

The Ripple Retreat on the banks of Loch Venachar is nearing completion thanks to the continued support of the Scottish Property Awards.

The Ripple Retreat on the banks of Loch Venachar is nearing completion thanks to the continued support of the Scottish Property Awards.

The luxury residential holiday home will be gifted to families with children who have cancer, giving them a place to escape, relax and spend valuable time together away from the ward.

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In the three years that the Scottish Property Awards has supported It’s Good 2 Give – the small charity behind the project – it has raised £40,000 which has gone a long way to delivering the loch-side build.

Those who have supported the project, including contractors, fundraisers and architect Tony Kettle who took on the project pro-bono, will attend the official opening on 12 May before the first families are welcomed to the Ripple Retreat.

“It’s at a really good point and we should be finished by the middle to the end of April,” says Lynne McNicoll, chair, co-founder and director of fundraising at It’s Good 2 Give.

“The bathrooms are in and the kitchen is about to start going in. For me, that’s one of the visual bits I have been looking forward to for a long time.”

Designed to reflect the natural beauty which surrounds it, the Ripple Retreat comprises an undulating roof which wraps around the structure, and putting it in place hasn’t been the easiest task for the contractors.

The finished result, however, is breathtaking – so much so that McNicoll overcame her fear of heights to climb up on the scaffolding and admire all the hard work.

“I had watched them crimping the zinc by hand and having watched the whole thing then to get up there on the roof and look at it actually blew me away. It is incredible.”

Another highlight for McNicoll was seeing her dream take shape when the metal structure was put in place. “It was extra special for me to actually see that because I was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and seeing them lowering the curve at the back into place was a very, very special moment.”

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While the Ripple Retreat is not far off opening its doors, It’s Good 2 Give is making tracks on its next project.

he current target is to contribute 100 comfortable chairs to the new Sick Kids Hospital. “Parents will be sitting on them for many hours over many weeks and I wanted them to be as comfortable as possible.”

It’s Good 2 Give will also fund the artwork for the children’s cancer ward.

McNicoll adds: “I would do anything to help youngsters who are going through cancer, especially now I have experienced it myself.”

This article was produced in partnership with the Scottish Property Awards.

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