Dumfries dad Richie Nicoll will complete an epic 12 Days of Criffel fundraising challenge for needy kids in the region today.
And every gruelling step – carrying around 50lbs in weight from a backpack and an SUV tyre – up the 570m (1,870 ft) high hill on 11 consecutive days so far – has been supported with donations from Dumfries and Galloway‘s residents and beyond.
He’s hoping today’s final push will generate even more donations at: https://www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk//campaign/mission-christmas-2024-fundraising-dumfries-galloway/fundraisers/richie-nicoll/.
The popular 46-year-old businessman, who took on the voluntary role of Dumfries Town Board chairman earlier this year, set out to raise £1,000 to support Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas in Dumfries and Galloway, as he explained: “so they can help make sure Santa reaches children living in poverty this Christmas”.
And the veteran, who previously served in the Royal Signals attached to the Bomb Disposal Regiment, has more than smashed it – despite battling the elements facing 70-80 mph winds, deep fog, snow, wind and freezing temperatures during the challenge.
More than £2,000 – double his target – had flooded in by the time the Standard went to press yesterday with Richie saying that he took on the challenge “to raise some very much needed funds for our kids”.
Yesterday, thrilled with the support and amount raised so far, the Dumfries-born father of two, who is married to Vicki – a lead nurse with Dumfries and Galloway NHS – said: “Well, what can I say but thank you all so much for carrying me over the £2k mark in donations. I’m absolutely blown away by your generosity and can’t thank you enough.”
He added: “Everything raised in our area stays in our area. Every donation counts and what you give will be used to buy a gift for a child who really needs it.”
Richie, who is also a director at Environmental Business Solutions and the managing director at EcoClean Solutions, has also enjoyed some company on some of the days of his challenge from the likes of Paul Kirk, Paul Watson, Jenni Nicoll, Skye Copland, Dumfries Saints u14’s, and his brother Chris Nicoll.
It is not the first time that Richie has taken on such a challenge. In 2023 he did the 3 Peaks Challenge of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, carrying a large SUV tyre up with him, to raise funds for Cash For Kids locally.