Family overwhelmed by support after comic festival’s cancellation

Dunfermline: Online fundraising helps cover costs of charity donations

The organisers of Dunfermline’s Comic Con say they have been overwhelmed and humbled by support since the beast from the east scuppered the event.

The third event, expected to draw in 5,000 fans, had to be cancelled at the 11th hour amid safety fears as west Fife suffered at the hands of last week’s violent snow storms.

Not only was the cancellation an emotional time for the small team, it was also a financial worry, with the Grainger family committed to using profits for charitable means.

Almost immediately Visit Dunfermline stepped in, setting up a GoFundMe appeal to help ease the burden and ensure Comic Con remained on Dunfermline’s calendar.

Within a day thousands had been raised, with many others telling the organisers not to refund the price of their tickets to help out.

Now, a week later, around £12,000 has poured in.

Alby Grainger, who runs the annual festival and town centre business Little Shop of Heroes with wife and daughter Louise and Sinead, said: “The incredible generosity of everyone contributing to this GoFundMe appeal has been overwhelming.

“We have been stunned by the speed with which our friends, family, customers, Comic Con vendors, ticket holders, guests and well-wishers have rallied around us.”

He added: “Little Shop Of Heroes and Dunfermline Comic Con were conceived and are run around the same simple mission statement.

“That was to create a welcoming, inclusive environment, improve access to reading materials and promote reading for all age groups, encourage all forms of creativity, treat everyone with respect and dignity and have fun.”

Local MP Douglas Chapman, who was to open the event, has praised the generosity of all those who have rallied round.

“It’s great to see the local and comic book communities come together to raise money for the Grainger family following the cancellation of Saturday’s much-anticipated event.

“The generosity of people to raise so much for the family in their time of need is commendable.

“Dunfermline Comic Con puts a spotlight on Dunfermline internationally and brings tourists to the town, which is a great boost to the local economy.

“Hopefully, it is an event that will continue for many years to come,” said the SNP Dunfermline and West Fife MP.

To donate visit gofundme.com/savedunfermlinecomiccon

“We have been stunned by the speed with which our friends, family, customers, Comic Con vendors, ticket holders, guests and well-wishers have rallied around us. ALBY GRAINGER

Picture: Kris Miller. Alby Grainger could have been left out of pocket after having to cancel Comic Con but has been left stunned by online fundraising.