A Dumfries pub quiz went online to help boost a fund for motor neurone disease.
When the Covid-19 pandemic closed pubs a Cavens charity quiz had to be postponed, though organisers Liam and Sue Chalmers had 20 teams signed up.
Liam said: “We do a quiz every couple of months and have raised funds in the last few years for major national charities and local causes such as D&G Blood Bikes, Caerlaverock Wetland Centre and the First Base Foodbank.
“Our charity for April was the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. It was a was a popular choice and it was a real disappointment to cancel.”
Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir revealed in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease and has been fundraising ever since.
Sue and Liam turned an online quiz to fight lockdown boredom into a fundraising venture which has now raised £405 for the foundation.
Liam said: “When we had to cancel it occurred to me that some of our quiz regulars might welcome a daily challenge to offset their lockdown boredom.
“I was also keen to have something to keep me busy so I decided to do a sheet of 10 questions each day and email them to our 25 or so regular quiz contacts.
“The idea certainly took off. We’ve now had eight quizzes, each with eight rounds of 10 questions.
“As word spread,we added more contacts and the circulation list expanded to nearly 60. Added to that, I sent it to a friend in Glasgow and it now reaches others in Aberdeen, Norwich, Falkirk, Ayr and Stirling.
“Many of the contacts told me they were using the daily sheets to challenge the family or neighbours.”
When someone suggested they should have charged an entry fee the couple realised they could help the charity after all.
Liam said: “Doddie was a giant of the game who has faced his biggest challenge.
“He’s driven to help fellow sufferers and to further MND research.
“He turned his boundless energy to raising funds for MND research and support and has raised millions of pounds in the last three years. We hope this contribution from Dumfries will help.”
