Latest news with #JimMcLelland
Daily Record
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Epic fundraiser to say thank you to Dumfries and Galloway's healthcare heroes
Jim McLelland's One Big Thank You is returning to Castle Douglas this weekend as he bids to walk, run and job for 12 hours straight. An epic fundraiser to say thank you to Dumfries and Galloway's healthcare heroes will take place this weekend. Jim McLelland will run, walk and jog round Lochside Park in Castle Douglas for 12 hours straight on Sunday. He'll set off at 6am and there will be fun for all the family from 11am until Jim finishes at 6pm. The 72-year-old from Crossmichael first held his One Big Thank You last year, raising £26,000 in the process to be split between the Alexandra Unit at DGRI and staff support. He said: 'The hospital belongs to all of us. If we do the right things, then the folk there get to see we appreciate what we do. 'We're short of nurses and doctors. Maybe if a doctor has the opportunity of two jobs, they'll look at Dumfries and Galloway and see everyone appreciates the hospital. 'It could be the difference between them coming and going somewhere else. 'I'd like to try to get people to sponsor bits and come on as partners through their businesses to help raise money. 'The folk from the NHS can see they're doing something for them and hopefully use their facilities.' Jim has taken on the challenge in tribute to wife Ruth, who died at DGRI's Alexandra Unit in 2023. Sunday's challenge is just days before she would have turned 68. His first wife Diane, died in the unit at the old hospital in 1994. People are welcome to keep Jim company and there will be a real festival atmosphere in the park. There will be plenty of live music, food and drink as well as bikes, cars and tractors to look at, along with lots of other entertainment. Jim reckons he has put up 300 posters across the region advertising what is happening - and his fame is growing. He said: 'In Gretna there must have been five people who recognised me from last year and when I was in Tesco in Lockerbie people said I'd been on TV. 'When I started, someone said it will take three years for folk to know what you're doing - maybe it will do and I'll have to go again next year.'
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Preparations ramp up for One Big Thank you for Dumfries and Galloway's healthcare heroes
Jim McLelland from Crossmichael will once again spend 12 hours running, walking and jogging round Lochside Park in Castle Douglas. Preparations are ramping up for this year's One Big Thank You. Jim McLelland from Crossmichael will spend 12 hours running, walking and jogging round Lochside Park in Castle Douglas in honour of Dumfries and Galloway's healthcare heroes. Jim took on the challenge last year and raised an incredible £26,000, which was split between the Alexandra Unit at DGRI and staff support. This year's fundraiser will take place on July 27, just days before wife Ruth would have turned 68. She died at DGRI's Alexandra Unit in 2023. Jim, 72, said: 'On the day I will be matching the 12 hour work shift of our nursing and medical teams by walking, jogging and running as they do in their daily duties. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'It will be a day of fun and celebration, providing us all with a chance to give back and show our appreciation to all staff, from the support services, catering teams to the porters, secretaries, nurses, doctors, consultants and steadfast team of volunteers. 'Please pledge whatever you can afford to support our local NHS staff and services, they are there for each of us in our time of need. 'Let's recognise their hard work, which often accompanies our darkest times of worry or pain. 'Even small contributions from offices, schools, shops, business and individual households could make a significant difference to our fundraising.' The day will have a real festival atmosphere, with music, stalls, food and events adding to the fun. To donate to the cause, click here. Anyone who would be willing to help Jim and act as an ambassador can contact him on 07776 012873 or jimmclelland@
