Anvil hauling father nominated for endurance fundraiser award

Davy Ballantyne, the father of a child with type 1 diabetes, has been nominated for a top fundraising award in recognition of his fundraising challenge that saw him drag an anvil up a mountain.
It took Davy Ballantyne 24 days to haul the 19-stone anvil to the top of the highest peak on the Isle of Arran in Scotland and his monumental effort has so far raised over £15,000 for type 1 diabetes charity the JDRF.
Davy decided to scale Goatfell, which is 874m above sea level, for his daughter Roisin.
On his JustGiving page, he said: “My daughter has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over a year ago. Living with diabetes is a struggle.
“This struggle is what the challenge represents. And through this challenge I want to raise money for the JDRF. So hopefully a cure will be found.”
The entire challenge was completed by Davy in a traditional Scottish kilt and, by raising nearly £16,000, he has smashed his original goal of £3,000.
To support Davy with a donation of your ow, visit Big Davy’s Anvil Challenge on his JustGiving page.
Davy has been nominated in the Endurance Fundraiser of the Year category at the JustGiving Awards, which celebrates individual fundraisers, teams and charities who have used the fundraising platform over the past year.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, November 22.
Scotland has the third highest incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world with 29,000 adults and children living with the condition, which is why JDRF has committed £3.9 million to Strathclyde and Edinburgh University for research projects.
Speaking to The Scotsman newspaper Peter Jones, a spokesman for JDRF in Scotland, said: “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 told the paper it was a “privilege” to have been recognised.
Photo source: The Scotsman.