HEALTH related causes in the Borders have benefitted from more than £430,000 of funding since the start of an annual dinner in the late 1990s.

This year the annual Borders Change Foundation Charity Dinner, held at the Carfraemill Hotel at the start of September, raised over £25,700 to cover the cost of a new Borders-based Marie Curie nurse.

And a further £825 was also raised for Doddie Weir’s MND charity.

The dinner, organised as in previous years by James and Elaine Marjoribanks, was yet again a huge success and a great night of food and entertainment for the 200 guests.

This year's event was the 20th annual Charity Dinner.

And following some arithmetic, it has emerged that the fundraiser has now contributed almost £440,000 for all sorts of health related causes in the Borders.

James told the Border Telegraph: "The generosity of those at the dinner was unbelievable and they all helped by buying fantastic auction prizes, that were once again very kindly donated, and contributing to the raffle.

"Elaine and I would like to personally thank all those that all those who, through their continued generosity, make this charity dinner the success that it really is.

"To be able to provide an extra Marie Curie nurse in the Borders will make such a difference to many people’s lives.”

Mr Marjoribanks also acknowledged the help of well-known chef Gary Moore for his input into the first eight dinners when it was known as the Borders Charity Dinner.

The funding from this month's dinner will allow for a Marie Curie nurse to operate entirely in the Scottish Borders for the next 12 months.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for the Borders Angela Davidson was full of praise for the Borders Change Foundation Charity Dinner.

She told us: "Last year in The Scottish Borders, our local Marie Curie nurses provided care to 71 patients and carried out over 429 visits.

"A visit is normally an overnight nine-hour shift, starting at 10pm and working through the night, finishing at 8am.

"This equates to 4290 hours of nursing care at a cost to the charity of £20 per hour.

"This means that it cost Marie Curie £85,800 to provide our service in The Borders alone - that is why this fantastic donation from the Borders Change Foundation means such a lot and will make a tremendous difference in the Borders.”