A Glasgow man is celebrating his 70th birthday in a different fashion this year by asking his friends to donate the price of a pint to a fundraiser for a five-year-old with cerebral palsy.
We reported last week how the family of young Jack McKenna were aiming to fundraise £25,000 to modify their home so that Jack would be able to continue living with his family.
John Cairns, 69, read the story and decided he could lend a helping hand.
John, from Shawlands, has decided to ask his friends to donate the price of a pint, £3, that they will give to the fundraiser on Saturday.
And he must be a popular man, as he says the fundraiser will be close to their four figure target by the weekend!
Speaking to Glasgow Live, John said: "I was reading the story on my tablet last Sunday night and I just decided I was going to do something to help.
"I don't have Facebook but my wife Mary and daughter Nicola do so they put a post out and I contacted my friends by phone.
"I just asked people to donate the £3 to the fundraiser instead of the price of a pint. Obviously the pubs are still closed but if they weren't I'd be in The Quaich this Saturday.
"I'm not amazing or brilliant but the people who have donated already are. I'm amazed at how much we've managed to raise already."
John says it was his personal experience with cerebral palsy that made the story stand out - he doesn't know Jack nor his parents or family members.
He added: "Something about the story got to me.
"My daughter Nicola has cerebral palsy, although it isn't as severe as Jack's, but I know what it's like trying to buy things to help make things better.
"The thought of them not getting a grant just made me feel terrible. The fundraiser is still progressing, and we hope to help Jack's parents make it easier for the wee boy and give a help."
Jack's mother hopes to raise the money to widen the doors in their family home so that Jack can join in the family meals, as well as add a wet room, a specialised hoist and a downstairs bedroom for Jack.
Currently, the family carry Jack up and down the stairs, but as he grows they will be unable to do this long term.
The family have managed to access council funding for 80 per cent of the building of the wetroom, but despite this, their life savings, donations from family and their wages they cannot cover the costs of the total re-modification of their home for Jack.
Since we published the story of the initial fundraiser, over £11,000 has been raised for Jack.
Laura, Jack's mum, told Glasgow Live: "I cannot believe we are over £11000 already, we honestly didn't think we would get to £1000!
"The support has been amazing! We are so overwhelmed and humbled by everybody's support especially in the current climate with a lot of people not able to work.
"This is giving us more confidence that we can hopefully make these home adaptations sooner rather than later."
You can follow Jack's fundraising journey on the Facebook page here, or donate to Jack's fundraiser for home modifications here.
