Feldy-Roo

20/08/2025

"We’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone, that SSE Renewables has now invested £100 million in communities across the UK and Ireland!

We’re especially proud to be part of this journey, because the Feldy-Roo project was made possible with support from the Griffin and Calliacher Community Fund.

Through this funding, alongside the incredible volunteer support from local businesses and community, we were able to deliver over 50,000 free meals to shielding residents during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Since then support from Renewables enabled us to create the popular Fitness Trail on the other side of River Tay from the Golf Course. This has proven hugely popular with local residents and tourists. With the introduction of the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail parkrun earlier this year, Aberfeldy now has its own Saturday morning parkrun which is attracting over 100 runner and volunteres every weekend. support has helped create a huge asset through this for Aberfeldy.

A huge thank you to for their support in making an impact in our community.

"

02/08/2025

So the "Run for Rachel" event has come and gone but the legacy of the event will remain for a long time.

Amazing community spirit and togetherness shone through with so many locals from different generations taking part in one way or another.

Importantly the incredible amount of money raised is going to a fantastic cause in Beat (Eating Disorders). This will make a real impact, helping the chairty provide support for others suffering from the illness.

I hope Rach would approve, I am pretty sure she would....

The current total, including Gift Aid, stands at a staggering £21,434.93. Well done everyone. 👏👏👏👏👏

Please read on as I will leave with 2 messages, the first from Davie Bywater and the second from Beat CEO Vanssa Longley:

1.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to every single person who contributed to the Run for Rachel. Sincere thanks to those who ran, walked, donated or simply showed up. Huge thanks also to all the volunteers and local businesses who helped support us and made the Run for Rachel such a successful event. In honour of my beautiful daughter Rachel, you’ve turned grief into action, and heartbreak into hope. Your generosity is not just raising vital funds for eating disorder support— it’s keeping Rachel’s spirit alive in the most powerful way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you"

Dave Bywater

2. Dear Dave and Calum,

I wanted to reach out personally to express my deep gratitude for the extraordinary amount raised in Rachel’s memory through the event held at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail.
I was deeply moved to hear about the scale of the community’s support – 270 runners came together in a true show of unity and remembrance. It’s a powerful tribute to Rachel, and it’s clear how deeply loved and missed she is by so many.
At Beat, we’re honoured that you chose to support our work. To see over £16,800 raised – and more still coming in – is extraordinary, and a testament to your determination and the strength of your community. You have achieved so much - all during an incredibly difficult time for your family. Please know that we’re here to stand alongside you, and to ensure Rachel’s story makes a lasting difference for others affected by eating disorders. As Natasha Drummond said in her tribute on your fundraising page, we want to use the gifts raised in Rachel's memory to be there for so many more people struggling with an eating disorder. Please do pass on our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the event – from the runners and volunteers to the local businesses and community members who helped make it such a success. I’ve seen some of the photos from the day on the Feldy-Roo page and it looked incredibly special.
Warmest wishes,
Vanessa


Vanessa Longley
Chief Executive Officer

Beat

28/07/2025

Well we asked the question, could our community get behind the "Run for Rachel" event yesterday?

Boy did Aberfeldy deliver. 🧡👏🧡👏🧡👏

An incredible 270 runners took part at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail parkrun yesterday. With Judy Ewer's team of course marshals and volunteers it took the total number of participants yesterday close to a staggering 300 people.

One of those particpants was our First Minister John Swinney MSP. A great gesture from John to give up his time from his own very busy schedule to support the family and the event. Hopefully he didn't leave Mr Trump waiting too long ...........

Thankfully the weather stayed dry and with a supply of water, oranges and Wasted Degrees ales, runners enjoyed a few refreshments after their exertions.

Then on to the The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar with live music by and followed by Robby Mercer on the wheels of steel. 🎙🎤🎸

A fantastic community day in memory of Rachel Bywater. A tragedy that clearly hit the town hard. Yesterday was heartening to see the community come togethe,r not only to support Rachel's family but also to raise money for Beat (eating disorders).

Now we set an ambitious target of raising £10,000 for the charity. Now for the results (so far).......

With 's Just Giving Page at over £8500 by the time of writing, when we add on the money raised in cash donations and sponsorship forms from yesterday the grand total now stands, incredibly at over £16,500 raised.

Aberfeldy we smashed it, well done to everyone who took part, donated or supported the event. Was a brilliant day and there is no doubt we did Rachel proud. 🎉👏👏👏👏👏

With a few sponsoship forms still to come in. You can drop off them at the Schiehallion Hotel with Julie Roy. And there is still the opportunity to donate online through the Just Giving Page
https://www.justgiving.com/page/runforrachel?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Are we being greedy if we think we could now double the initial target and get to £20,000.............now that would be some achievement.

Thanks again to everyone for yesterday and thanks to Iain Struthers for his brilliant photos. Enjoy.....

27/07/2025

"Run for Rachel".............. the day has arrived and weather holding up.

1pm at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail parkrun, but please try and arrive a bit earlier so we can get some group photos done by Iain Struthers Photography. 🎥🎥

Good luck everyone taking part today. Those that have sponsorship forms or wish to make donations we will collect at the Fitness Trail. You can also donate online on the Just Giving Page.

Hoping to break the £10k barrier today in order to raise funds for Beat (Eating Disorders) 🧡🧡🧡

🚗🚗 Parking will be limited so if you are local please saves spaces for people who are travelling today to take part.

Breadalbane Academy - PKC are kindly keeping the campus open for those wishing to take a shower after the run.

Big thanks to Wasted Degrees and Co-op for donating refreshments for the course, we are currently dispersing them around tyhe course in big ice buckets. We will provide bins at the start/finish point please use these for any rubbish.

🎙🎤🎸 Live music and a disco at The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar from 3pm, there will be donation buckets at the pubs all day. Thanks to and and Robby Mercer for the entertainment.

All the best to everyone today and thanks for all taking part.

Lets's do this for Rach........🧡🧡🧡

23/07/2025

"Run for Rachel" Sunday 27th July starts 1pm at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail.

The online Just giving page went past the £5000 barrier today. Thanks to all those who have supported the fundraiser for Beat (Eating Disorders).

Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity. Their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. These serious mental illnesses ruin and, too often, take lives. Our Helpline is available online or by phone for anyone suffering, as well as their family and friends.

With over 100 people now resgistered for the event this Sunday we think, with cash and sponsosrhip donations, could we potentially aim to raise £10,000 for this really important charity.....?

All in the name of Bywater, her passing has had a massive impact on the town, and we hope as many people as possible can turn up on Sunday to support the event.

Altough the run/walk starts at 1pm, we hope people could head down a bit earlier. Iain Struthers Photography has kindly offered to mark the occasion with some photography on the day and is bringing his drone to try and get a group shot of all the participants.

You can still register on this page or at any of the pubs The Fountain Bar & Restaurant, Schiehallion Hotel and The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar.

There is a lot going on during and after the event. 🎙🎤🎸🍺🍰🍖🍗🥩

We hope to do proud this weekend. 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

You can support online on the Just Giving Page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/runforrachel?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

22/07/2025

"Run for Rachel" Sunday 27th July, 1pm @ Fitness Trail

With only 5 days to go to the event the local community is coming together in some style to support this event, with the aim of raising funds for Beat (Eating disorders).

Where do I start....

🍺Wasted Degrees from Blair Atholl are donating some cases of their delicious beers for thirsty finishers after the run.

🍊🍌🍓 For the athletes, Aberfeldy Co-op are donating bottles of water and fruit.

are donating plastic bins, which we will fill with ice to keep refreshements cool.

Breadalbane Community Campus are opening later this Sunday to provide showering facilities for anyone travelling on Sunday.

🍕🌭 Dows deli ltd are providing a buffet at the The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar after the event for those that have worked up an appetite.

🎸🎤🎙 We have live music from 3pm at the The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar with & , followed by the one and only Robby Mercer with a disco.

Ewer from FeldyRoo Fitness Trail parkrun has taken control of course set up and the volunteer marshalls on the day, so we are in very safe hands there.

A lot of work has been getting done on the trail, with massive thanks to Gordy Leighton, David Murray and Mikey Henderson for their grass cutting expertise.....

Hope to see you all down there on Sunday.......

17/07/2025

"Run for Rachel" Sunday 27th July @ The FeldyRoo Fitness Trail

Just 10 days to go so still plenty of time to register for the event. You can do this at The Fountain Bar & Restaurant, Schiehallion Hotel or The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar. You can pick up sponsorship forms or if you wish or just give a donation on the day. All funds raised are to support Beat (eating disorders). Would be appreciated if you could sign up so we have an idea of numbers on the day. This will really help with planning on the day.

First Minister John Swinney MSP has picked up his sponoship form and confirmed he will also be lending his support by taking part on the 27th.

After completing the event we would like to invite all Rachlel's freinds and all participants on the day to the The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar for a well earned refreshment. We have secured the brilliant Perth band and to play from 3pm to 6pm at the pub.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

14/07/2025

“Run for Rachel”
Sunday 27th July, 1pm @ the Fitness Trail.

A wee reminder that we are hosting the event to raise money for Beat (a charity Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders.

We are raising money in two ways:
1. Rachel’s brother Calum Johnson has set up a direct page on just giving to donate online
https://www.justgiving.com/page/runforrachel?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

2. There are sponsorship forms at The Fountain Bar & Restaurant Schiehallion Hotel and The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar which you can pick up and register for the event.

Entry is free but any sponsorship or donations on the day would be really appreciated

About eating disorders

At least 1.25 million people in the UK suffer from these illnesses, many in secret. They are of all ages, genders and backgrounds – eating disorders do not discriminate. Eating disorders include bulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), and anorexia, which tragically has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, though all eating disorders can be deadly. While this is the worst-case scenario, there are many ways in which eating disorders severely affect the quality of life of both those suffering and those who care about them. They steal childhoods, devastate relationships and pull families apart. But, with the right treatment and support, recovery is possible.

What we do

Our national Helpline exists to encourage and empower people to get help quickly, because we know the sooner someone starts treatment, the greater their chance of recovery. People can contact us online or by phone. We listen to them, help them to understand the illness, and support them to take positive steps towards recovery. We also support family and friends, equipping them with essential skills and advice, so they can help their loved ones recover whilst also looking after their own mental health. And we campaign to increase knowledge among healthcare and other relevant professionals, and for better funding for high-quality treatment, so that when people are brave enough to take vital steps towards recovery, the right help is available to them.

We partner with the NHS to provide services for those with an eating disorder, their carers - such as family and friends - and training for healthcare professionals. You can find out more about this on our Commission us page.

The work we do means that every year lives are saved, families are kept together, and people are able to live free of eating disorders.

Our Values

We share the vision of an end to the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. We are inspired by the people we serve, by the difference we can make, and by our commitment to each other.

To make our vision a reality, we need to be bold. It takes a particular courage for our beneficiaries to ask us for help. And we need to be courageous in return – being proactive in seeking new opportunities, embracing new ways of working, and challenging things that are preventing our vision from becoming a reality.

Central to our success is our commitment to building and maintaining supportive and mutually empowering relationships with our colleagues, supporters and beneficiaries. In turn, these relationships provide us with unique experience and learning, which we use to speak with both compassion and authority about the realities of eating disorders.

We also believe that people performing at their best are happier in their work and that happy people perform at their best. So we create and protect a trusting and collaborative environment where people can experiment, learn and flourish.

We all have the responsibility of ensuring our behaviours and relationships reflect these values on a day-to-day basis and for holding ourselves and each other accountable when they do not.

When we get this right, we will achieve brilliant results together, making Beat a truly inspiring and enjoyable place to work.

11/07/2025

Rachel’s bench installed earlier today.

Ahead of the “Run for Rachel” event on Sunday 27th July at 1pm.

We have been blown away with all the support we are receiving. Big thanks again to and for doing the groundwork’s and installing the bench, for supplying the materials and embgraphics for supplying all the advertising for the event.

All done free of charge in support of the “Run for Rachel” event raising money for Beat (eating disorders).

This town sticks together like no other….

Please sign up for the event on Facebook or by picking up a form at one of the pubs.

08/07/2025

Aberfeldy doing what Aberfeldy does……thanks

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

“Run for Rachel” @ fitness Trail, Sunday 27th July, 1pm

Sign up at any of the pubs The Fountain Bar & Restaurant Schiehallion Hotel The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar

07/07/2025

"Run for Rachel" on Sunday 27th July, 1pm at the Fitness Trail.

The family have set up a just giving page for those that would rather donate online.

There are also sponsorship forms at The Black Watch Inn and Sports Bar, Schiehallion Hotel and The Fountain Bar & Restaurant.

You can sign up for the event at any of the pubs and pick up a form. Entry is free but any sponsorship mony raised or donations would be welcome on the day.

Leighton and Lambie were down today doing the groundworks for the new bench which should be in position by the end of this week. In a special spot, chosen by Maria, with a beautiful view of Wades Bridge and new Aberfeldy Sports Club.

As expected the response already has been fantastic, the community is showing great support for Rachel and her family and I am sure the event will be really well supported.

Help Calum Johnson raise money to support Beat

02/07/2025

At 1pm on Sunday 27th July, David, Maria, Anna and Calum would like to invite everyone to "Run for Rachel" at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail. We will be installing a new bench on the River Bank for Rachel Bywater, who very sadly passed away on May 17th this year.

To mark the occasion a fund raiser will be held on the Sunday to raise funds for BEAT (Eating Disorders). All you have to do is walk, jog or run 1, 2 or 3 laps of the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail. The choice is yours, all we want is everyone to get involved. You can fill in an entry form and pick up sponsorship form at any of the pubs - Fountain, Black Wach or Schiehallion. Entry is totally free but raised sponsorship or donations on the day would be really appreciated no matter how little or large.

Aberfeldy and District do your thing.......

I will leave you with a note from Anna, who has done so well raising funds already for the charity.

"We have created this fundraiser in loving memory of my little sister Rachel. Her strength, kindness and humour touched everyone she met. She fought a long and courageous battle with anorexia and though she is no longer with us she continues to inspire us every day.

In honour of Rachel, we are raising money for the BEAT (Eating disorders) We would like to raise funds to help support them.
Your donation will help ensure that others facing similar battles can access the care they desperately need. It is our hope that through this fundraiser, her memory can help change the lives of others.
This day is also for her. For the incredible person she was. For the strength she showed every single day. For the moments we’ll never get back. And for the hope that no other family has to go through what we have."

With love and thanks from,
Anna, Maria, Davie and Calum x