Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Festive fundraiser’s total hits a whopping £100,000
We are slowly starting to see Christmas items surface on shelves and Monklands’ answer to Santa Claus has given the most incredible gift of all after his 15 years of fundraising for a charity supporting sick kids and their families incredibly hit the £100,000 mark.
Charity champion Alistair Doyle’s latest spectacular festive lights event – where he adorns his Coatbridge home with sparkling illuminations that people come from far and wide to see – managed to collect nearly £7000 for the Ronald Mcdonald House in Glasgow, despite the limitations caused by Covid.
This took the total funds raised by the Kirkwood festive fundraiser and his kind-hearted supporters since he first launched the extravaganza in 2006 to a whopping £100,196.
Alistair slipped on his finest Santa hat to present his latest donation to thrilled staff at the medical facility, which provides “free home away from home accommodation to families with seriously ill children”.
Alistair told the Advertiser: “Due to Covid, I wasn’t able to put as many attractions at the house, or welcome as many visitors as I normally would to last year’s lights display.
“But we still managed to raise £6860, which is a very good amount, especially considering everything going on due to the pandemic.
“It’s truly humbling to now cross the £100,000 mark since first launching the event, and I can’t thank everyone who has contributed over the years for their support.
“In terms of the latest display, I’d like to thank Janice Kirkland for her invaluable help with our social media, the Coatbridge branch of Bank of Scotland, my neighbour Jimmy Potter, family friend Ian Kirkland, the Advertiser and Annemarie Croal, Aileen Kerr and everyone else for their donations.
“Everyone’s support gives sick children what they want most – their families by their side throughout their time in hospital.”
A spokesperson for the Ronald Mcdonald House added: “Congratulations to Alistair as he has now raised more than £100,000 for the charity.
“Due to Covid-19, donations for most charities have been hit hard over the past year-and-a-half - but the work we do does not stop.
“Support from people like Alistair gives ill children the chance to have their families with them when they are in hospital.
“We would like to thank Alistair, his family and neighbours and the many people who helped fundraise for the charity.”
Alistair also has a Justgiving page for people to make donations, which can be visited at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ janice-kirkland