Viking Genes Shetland Surpasses £100,000 Milestone in Drive to Fund £1 Million Genetic Screening Project

Viking Genes Shetland has passed a major fundraising milestone, exceeding £100,000 toward its £1 million target to deliver a pioneering genetic screening programme for the Shetland community.

Press Release

Issued: 12 January 2026 

 

The initiative aims to offer 5,000 Shetlanders the opportunity to participate in a free, Shetland‑specific genetic screening programme. By testing a number of genetic variants known to be more common in the Shetland population, the project will identify individuals at increased genetic risk of developing serious health conditions. Participants with actionable findings will be supported to access the appropriate NHS care pathways.

In addition to identifying those at risk, the programme will also highlight individuals who may not be directly affected themselves but who carry an elevated chance of passing certain genetic conditions to their children.

Recent contributions include £15,000 from Viking Energy’s Shetland Community Benefit Fund to the University of Edinburgh’s Development Trust, and a £25,000 donation from the North Yell Development Council, the largest single contribution to date.

A voluntary committee of Shetland community leaders, chaired by Sandra Laurenson OBE, has played a vital role in driving the fundraising effort. Charity shops across the isles have contributed generously, including £10,000 from SHOARD in Whalsay and £5000 from Aith Charity Shop. Small groups of supporters have organised grassroots activities to raise funds, including gigs by the Paves, collections for family gatherings and birthday parties, musical theatre nights, Christmas carol concerts, Robert Anderson’s sponsored sailing trip, the Leith lasses Halloween event, Sharon Deyell’s swapshop and Da Wastside Smiles fun run and Laura Wishart and friends’ charity auction, which raised over £15,000. Over one hundred individuals have also contributed to the Viking Genes Fund, as have some funeral collections, as well as a number of local businesses with large and small donations.

Business and community support remain essential to ensuring Viking Genes can continue its work across Scotland’s islands. While the Shetland campaign has demonstrated what can be achieved in a short time, further significant funding is required to fully realise the screening project.

The initiative has already received strong public backing, including praise at the annual public meeting of NHS Shetland and endorsements from community councils across the isles.

Professor Jim Flett Wilson, who leads the Viking Genes programme at the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said:

“I am constantly amazed and humbled by the generosity and dedication of Shetlanders, once they decide to support a cause like Viking Genes. I’m very excited that we’ve passed the £100,000 barrier, but am aware there is still some way to go. The Shetland Community Screening Project will improve community health and wellbeing, save lives and put Shetland at the forefront of preventative medicine in the UK. The strong community support for the project is vital and I would like to thank all our donors, but particularly Sandra Laurenson and everyone else who has been involved in fundraising, as well as Leisa Thomas and her team assisting us in Edinburgh: we couldn’t do it without you.”

Sandra Laurenson, chair of the Viking Genes Shetland fundraising committee, said: “It has been a real privilege to get an understanding of this pioneering work and the benefits it can bring to healthcare.  Prevention is the best cure and it has been seen that enabling individuals to learn early if they carry a health risk allows them to take action. We look forward to doing more through 2026 to share the awareness of the Shetland Screening Project and how it is a community taking care of its own.  Our community engagements have all been positive and is heartening to have all the goodwill towards achieving the Project on a scale that we aspire to.  We are indebted to our fundraisers so far and there will be more to come throughout the year.”

 

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