Letterkenny photographer Brian McDaid 'humbled' by response to Hospice fundraiser

‘Humbling’ is a word that comes to mind when a local photographer was asked about his fundraising effort which he launched less than a week ago.

With a love of cars and a big fan of rallying all his life, Letterkenny’s Brian Mc Daid set about putting a car on the road that he bought less than a month ago. Brian bought an 18-year-old Toyota Passo he had seen advertised on Facebook and lived out a dream that he had to use the car to raise money for the Donegal Hospice. He will be driving around Ireland.

The target he had on iDonate was of the same number as his birthday he wanted to raise 60 hundred euros - €6,000 - to match his 60th birthday which is in January.

This week he passed the €5,000-mark on Monday morning on the iDonate and also has money that was donated personally at the Donegal Hospice which would have the fund-raiser going over the original target already.

“It’s a great feeling going into Christmas,” Brian said. “I’m very happy and humbled by the support so far. Betsy, the car, is heading into the graphic shop this week to put the names of more local businesses that have come on board for this very good cause.

It’s as much of a trip getting to the start date on January 2 as it doing what he started to do.

You can donate to Brian McDaid's iDonate here

The difficult part for Brian is asking for the money but Betsy's high colours have made that a bit easier - every penny counts big and small that will go to a very good local cause the Donegal Hospice, which does great work caring for loved ones in difficult times.

The picture of the car was taken out in Donegal this week on the famous Knockalla coast road in a location similar to the iconic place that Brian and Betsy hope to visit on their trip around Ireland.

A local hero of Brian’s - navigator Rory Kennedy - has given Brian maps from the old Circuit of Irelands that Rory had won with the late great Bertie Fisher - so Brian’s leisurely trip in January is loosely based around that.