Lynne's aiming to raise £5,000 a day

Scotland's volunteer fundraiser of the year, Lynne McNicoll, has set out plans for her September Challenge, which will see her have at least one fundraising event every day of the month.

The money will be raised in the name of Mrs McNicoll's own charity, which she launched at the start of the year, called It's Good 2 Give!

It will go towards the 1 million target needed to help families affected by cancer, including building a respite house with all the facilities to enable a young cancer patient and their family to go away on holiday and spend time together.

Mrs McNicoll, from Craiglockhart, has already had floods of ideas for her latest challenge, and offers from people keen to help.

Events will include a zip slide, a fashion show, bag-packing, art auction, sponsored cycle, line dancing, cup cake auction and Mrs McNicoll's famous "Blingo" event.

The 54-year-old said: "One of the things that no-one really talks about is the toll that it takes on the family unit when a child gets that sick.

"One parent usually has to continue working, the other has to give up their job to care for their child, and they end up being ships in the night, passing each other on the way to and from the hospital.

"Often, the young person will have siblings, who can feel like there's no time left for them.

"It's so important to give families a break, to let them spend time together. A purpose-built holiday home will give them space to do that.

"When you meet the young people, you say to yourself, 'come on, it's just raising money, it's nothing compared to what they're going through'."

Despite being up and running for such a short space of time, the charity has already raised almost 20,000.

More than half of this was raised at a Blingo event last month, which saw a necklace made by young cancer sufferer Shannon MacKenzie from Wallyford bring in 3,000 for the charity.

Mrs McNicoll has also just appointed two patrons of the charity – local broadcaster Grant Stott and children's author Cathy Cassidy.

She said: "The patrons are fantastic. Grant has hosted our Blingo event for the last four years, and very kindly said he'd be honoured to be our patron.

"He really sums up the spirit of the charity with his energy and his commitment.

"And Cathy Cassidy as well – her children's writing is so loved by exactly the age range that we're both encouraging to get involved in giving and that we're looking to support in their difficult illnesses."

Mr Stott said: "Lynne is quite a remarkable individual.

She is an inspiration and if anyone can raise 150,000 in one month, Lynne McNicoll can."