Caring Caretaker breaks the half million pound mark

Coleraine's Caring Caretaker Davy Boyle MBE has now raised over £500,000 for charity since starting back in 1998

"Christmas in Coleraine wouldn't be Christmas without Davy Boyle sitting out" Says  Justice Minister Claire Sugden MLA "Davys a hero in this town"

Davy Boyle began his charitable exploits in 1998,when he was approached by a local postman, Jack Fyfe, to do a sponsored diet.  Boyle said, "Jack and I both knew there wasn’t much weight coming off.’  A local policeman then suggested for Boyle to do more fundraising events and to keep a running total – this was the start of the Caring Caretaker. 

Since starting Davy has organised events including sponsored walks, breakfast fundraisers, street collections, music concerts and of course, his annual Christmas sit out, the first of which taking place back in the year 2000..

During his first sit out, Boyle began with only a chair and an umbrella, where he sat in the centre of Coleraine from morning until night during December until Christmas Eve.  Boyle has completed the Christmas sit out every year since and says he hopes to do so for many years to come.     

At the beginning of this year, Boyle’s total money raised was £483,000.  This money has been used to support a wide range of local charities and the disadvantaged.  In January 2016, Boyle set himself a goal to reach £500,000 by the end of the year.  Yesterday,the 22^nd December Boyle broke that barrier.

Commenting on his efforts David Boyle MBE, said: “I never thought I would get close to raising £500,000 in a million years.  For all those years I haven’t been at home and giving up Christmas, has been worth it.  The money I raise always goes towards great causes and helps so many people from different walks of life. 

"I would like to thank every person who has helped me along the way.  The Coleraine community has always stood by me and I can’t thank them enough for all their support over the years.  A special mention must go to my wife Theresa.  Theresa has been a tower of strength and her patience and support has been second to none.  I would also like to thank the Reverend McMullan for his continued support and friendship over the years.  Reaching the half a million mark is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.”

Maggie Wade from Cancer Research UK said “On behalf of the committee of Cancer Research UK (Coleraine Branch) we would like to express our gratitude to Davy for all his efforts, past and present, to help so many worthwhile causes. This year, all the money raised will be donated to several Cancer charities, and we are fortunate to be one of them. Cancer Research funds research into over 200 types of cancer through research and drug trials and we know that progress is being made all the time.

We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our very own Caring Caretaker. We have really enjoyed working with him throughout 2016 and we wish him a very happy and warm Christmas after his long sit out.”

This year the chosen charities that the money will be going toward include Friends of the Cancer Centre, Leukaemia Lymphoma NI and Cancer Research UK.

Davy Boyle is determined as ever and his fundraising initiative looks set to continue, he says £600,000 is the new target.