Arran's diabetic '˜anvil dad' nominated for charity award

A father has been nominated from fundraising platform JustGiving after hauling a 19-stone anvil to the highest peak on the Isle on Arran to raise funds for type 1 diabetes research.

Goatfell and Brodick Bay. Picture: Getty Images

Davy Ballantyne decided to undertake the challenge after his daughter Roisin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to prove to her that she was not alone with her struggle.

It took him 24 days to complete the ascent to the top of Goatfell - 874m above sea level - with the anvil, returning each day to pick up where he left off.

Adding to the challenge, Davy wore a traditional kilt as he scaled the mountain.

Davy Ballantyne. Picture: Contributed

The JustGiving Awards celebrate individual fundraisers, teams and charities who have used the fundraising platform over the past year and Davy has been nominated in the Endurance Fundraiser of the Year category for his achievement.

He has so far raised more than five times his original goal to support JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity.

JDRF exists to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications and funds research across Scotland and the rest of the world.

Davy Ballantyne. Picture: Contributed

JDRF’s figurehead in Scotland, Peter Jones, said: “It is impossible not to be impressed by the feat of endurance that Davy undertook in support of his daughter.

“We are immeasurably grateful to him for raising over £15,000, which will support our research projects across the country.

“Scotland has the third highest incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world but with every research project funded we are another step closer to finding a cure for families like Davy’s.”

Davy said: “It is a privilege to be nominated for Endurance Fundraiser of the Year.

“This challenge was about showing people the struggle people with type 1 diabetes go through every day and this nomination also reflects their endurance.

“Thank you to everyone who donated and continues to support Roisin and our family, as well as the goal of curing type 1 diabetes.”

The winners will be revealed by JustGiving on 22 November.

JDRF exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications, and is the world’s leading type 1 diabetes research charity.

At a global level, JDRF volunteers and staff have been responsible for raising over £1 billion to support type 1 diabetes research, since the charity’s inception.

In Scotland, JDRF has committed £3.9m to research projects at Strathclyde and Edinburgh University.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. JDRF exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes.

It is an autoimmune condition that cannot be prevented, and is not linked to lifestyle factors

People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive, until a cure is found. It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives.

Type 1 diabetes affects about 400,000 people in the UK, 29,000 of them children.

Scotland has the third highest incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world with 29,000 adults and children living with the condition.