FESTIVE DISPLAY

Ian Bunting

A caring community champion gifted a record-breaking boost to sick children following his latest festive fundraiser.

For the past 11 years, Alistair Doyle has spectacularly transformed his Kirkwood home into a grand grotto of jaw-dropping Christmas illuminations, much to the delight of Monklands families who attend the display.

Thanks to the generosity of visitors to the Sharp Avenue property, donations from businesses and schools and proceeds from other events run by Alistair last year, his coffers were swelled to a wonderful £12,150 – his biggest annual sum yet.

As ever, the terrific total was donated to the Ronald McDonald family house at Glasgow’s Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children, with Alistair recently acting as Santa Claus once again to hand the final sum over to staff at the medical facility.

The latest sum takes the overall total Alistair has raised for the Ronald McDonald family house over more than a decade to a phenomenal £63,129.

A delighted Alistair told the Advertiser: “I began raising funds for the Ronald McDonald family house back in 2006 and not for one second did I think I’d be sat here 11 displays later with over £63,000 to show for it.

“The first time I raised £ 680 and was chuffed with that, so you can only imagine how wonderful it is to see it grow each year to as much as £12,150.

“Donations come in from kind people and companies all throughout the year, not just at Christmas time.

“Even during periods where people may have been struggling a little, financially, they have still dug deep to help sick children.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated for their fantastic support; I’m already looking forward to this year’s events.”

Alistair’s thoughtful support has won heartfelt praise from the Ronald McDonald family house, with a spokesperson for the facility saying: “On behalf of the many

Thoughtful Alistair hands over his latest donation at the facility