Twelve long months ago we saw a swell in the number of charity donations in support of hard-pressed NHS workers and, inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, a little girl from Dumfries started her own Sponsored Pretty Pebble Hunt in aid of NHS Charities Together.
Matthew George (Beatrice’s Dad) told DGWGO “Beatrice George loved collecting pebbles anyway, so it was not difficult to keep it going for such a worthy cause. Whenever she went for a walk with her parents around their local harbour at Kingholm Quay she would automatically be on the lookout to increase her collection, made easier by their location in such picturesque surroundings. Not just satisfied with purely collecting, with her parents’ help she has decorated a large number of them, and as well as being given as unusual presents to family and friends, some were left at Crichton Gardens, a couple at Catherine Street children’s playground and a painted saltire version has even found its way to the First Minister.
Her fundraising efforts eventually went viral on all forms of social media, and in the course of this huge effort she received over 300 messages of support from people in very diverse walks of life.
Not only from local people and family and friends, but from well-known faces such as Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Lord Sugar, Steven Spielberg, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a whole host of other well-known supporters, including receiving a number of personal video messages.
Beatrice has even received an official commendation and cross-party recognition in the Scottish Parliament for her fine effort and achievement.
It is now felt the time is fast approaching to close this particular fund-raising campaign as its aim has been more than achieved. From a modest target of £50 it has spiralled to an incredible figure of over £50,000, thanks to donations both large and small, not just from our hard working everyday people but also including a number from celebrities in the worlds of sport and entertainment, with every donation for whatever amount having equal importance.
It just shows that the ability of the population to find it in their hearts to donate to worthy causes is still a priority in these troubled times, and that people’s generosity is almost never ending.
We should all say a big thank you to all of those who are committed to the cause and have generously donated time, money and publicity, but as her efforts are the focus of this particular enterprise, a special thank you to a little two year old young lady from our own region, Beatrice.”
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