Please give generously.
 

I would ask you please to consider making a donation to my friend Big Davy's charity page.
He is, starting today and over the next few days, hauling a 266 pound anvil up our tallest hill, Goatfell (2,687 feet) in order to raise money for research into type 1 diabetes.
Some pictures of the man himself and his Day One blisters can be found on his charity page.

"First day is done. It was brutal. Skin on the fingers gone. But a satisfied feeling"

Enter credit card info correctly.
But in name and address form, enter anything in each blank, ie street, type street, state, type state, it will accept it anyway. ;)

Thanks, Bruce! X


Sent by thought transference

"... Realised this is going to take much longer than I initially thought. ..."


Sent by thought transference

Hey, he's got all summer. :D

You know, looking at the size of that guy, I'll be if he made a harness he could carry that sumbitch up.

I did suggest a harness to Davy, but he said he didn't relish the idea of being inextricably strapped to such a weight should it decide to descend precipitately. Or words to that effect.
"Day three. The spirits are up again. Davy felt much better today. His arms are better than he thought. ... So Davy's been whistling and humming ...."


Sent by thought transference

Must have reached a balance point where everything hurts equally. :D

Although this is a wee downhill bit, it shows typical terrain and the current method.

I hope he doesn't injure himself. This looks very perilous. It's like the last thing you'd catch me doing.

Good way to mop up the little balances on these gift cards I have fattening my wallet

Thanks LJ. He does have a pal with him (a skinny lanky photographer guy). And lots of determination.

The JustGiving fee structure sounds much better than most.

Actually, it couldn't take the gift card. Might be because I don't know the zip code. I checked the balance and the numbers twice. I guess I'll have to break off a piece from my own card.

Less than GBP200 to get him to over GBP5,000 (about USD7,500).
Not saying you've got to put up that amount LJ ...

Sent by thought transference

Big Davy and his wee pal.

convenient how there always seems to be a heavy plank on the trail.

;)

I wouldn't want to even carry the damned plank up that hill!

If you're going to carp that Big Davy's got help, the other guy in this pic is the photographer and I'm pretty sure the anvil weighs more than him!
This pic taken from a drone by a guy with type 1 diabetes.
(Oh, and there's no need to give me credit for your donations :blush: thank YOU :heartpump)

You deserve a little credit, since they can't give you a commission for your promoting it.

They are all family on Arran. :D

It was lovely to bump into Big Davy at the Club this evening when we went for our fish and chips. He's a neighbour in the village. He told me he's thrilled at the donations from the States (so thanks, guys!) and all over the world. He does, indeed, slide the anvil up using the plank which he wets with water: greasing the plank makes the anvil slide off and it's a bu&&er when that happens. I saw the barks on his shins where the anvil has just caught him with a bump. He wears steel-toe-capped boots to keep his toesies safe.
He's going to take the weekend off. He gets so dehydrated and drinks so much water that he hasn't room to eat, so he's noticed that he's getting weaker. He'll eat loads over the weekend to make up for that.
He reckons it'll take about another ten days to get to the summit.


Sent by thought transference

I think heavy jeans or Carharts(canvas) would be safer for the flesh, but it wouldn't protect the bones.
Did he bring the anvil back down for the weekend? :lol2:

I'd rather punch myself in the face until I knocked myself out. God bless him.

He leaves the anvil on the hill every day. I don't think anyone's going to run away with it :lol:
To me that's yet another awesome thing: each day he strides back up the hill to start again where he left off.

Oh, this would be a dirty trick, half a dozen guys go up on the weekend and take the anvil to the top and leave it there. http://cellar.org/2016/reddevil.gif
But never, ever, ever, admit to it. Trouble is, sooner or later somebody would shoot there mouth off and each one would face the wrath of Davy. :shock: Talk about risky business.

Very risky. Davy is Big.


Sent by thought transference

This ...
...and this, while I watch.

Or they could slather it in axle grease....

Or move it back 100 feet every night

Or replace it with a styrofoam replica and film him falling over backwards when he goes to lift it the next morning.

the anvil needs googly eyes

Wow, what a Herculean task.

can't donate anythng I'm afraid, but please pass along my admiration.

Will do, Dana!
As I said, he's taking a break over the weekend ...
Meanwhile online donations stand at GBP 5,225.77, and ther are numerous collection tubs around the island ...

Is he wearing that kilt in the ahem traditional manner?

I expect so. Do you want me to ask on your behalf?

*grins* well, I am certainly curious.

Men look awesome in kilts.

Sorry, forgot to post about day 6 yesterday. An abrupt change in the terrain - much rougher and steeper from here on in.
That pointy bit in the middle is where the anvil is headed.
Davy spent the weekend eating a lot and resting on the couch.

Damn...

Day seven (Tuesday). Davy is happy, he's done really great today. He had his appetite back. He says his total pull was about 170m. Over steep and rough terrain. He's using two planks - just look at all the extra clobber he has to carry about, as well as the blessed anvil!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Davy-Ballantyne. Only £252 to go before Davy raises double what he aimed at on JustGiving.

Two planks seems a lot more efficient. You never have to take the anvil off the plank to re-position the plank, and then lift it back on .

Day eight. Today's quote is from Fraser, the photographer who's with Big Davy every step of the way: "at the most difficult part for the not two days or so, finding so much out about ourselves."
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a590afd36d.jpg


Sent by thought transference

I guess that flag answers Dana's question

Attachment 56851
I expect you've been wondering how Davy is doing.
Attachment 56848
He expects to reach the top (that's 2,867 feet above sea-level) on Sunday.
Attachment 56849
Attachment 56850
He's reached £8,701.09 (nearly triple his original goal) in fundraising on JustGiving.
And the terrain has got interesting, to say the least.

Arran is spectacular.

And I'm impressed with Big Davy's determination.

He probably didn't it would be this difficult either. :smack:
But when he's done, nobody will tell him he's a damn fool... and live.

I tried to give this morning and it declined my card.

And it's damn near a given that no one else will ever drag a freakin' anvil up Goat Fell.

:notworthy

Thanks Fargon. Did you try what Bruce suggested?

Davy says he's gotta finish his task on Sunday because on on Monday he goes back to work. Apart from that, he says "Ah'm plannin' tae lay on the sofa an' eat cake fer a munth!".

No I just called the bank and they fixed it. I'll try again tomorrow.

Looks like the final approach to the summit of Mailbox Peak. www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mailbox-peak

For example...

http://www.google.com/search?q=mailb...&sa=N#mhpiv=10

He made it. Did you doubt it?
Attachment 56884
The weedy guy next to him is the photographer, occasionally assisting with balancing the anvil on a plank.
Attachment 56885
He arrived at the top to be greeted by friends and family and the skirl of bagpipes.
Attachment 56886

The total raised so far on JustGiving is an incredible £11,500 or so - it keeps on going up, much like the big man himself.
As we say in these parts, "Gaun yersel' Davy!".

Got a bit of a bump in donations once he reached the summit, didn't he?

I even dropped a little in the bucket.

Thanks, Glatt! He deserves it!


Sent by thought transference

That's fantastic!
I tossed a couple coins in the well as well.

Should we contribute to paying the fine for littering the mountain top? ;)

Thanks guys! I know Davy appreciates the support from around the world.

Sent by thought transference

That last picture is so true, everybody shows up after the work is done. :haha:

What's with Tom Cruise on the left in that last pic? Big risky business fan?

He's the bagpiper :D

Here's a newspaper article in The Scotsman (respectable national coverage for Scotland). And his JustGiving total is now over £12,100 (that's around 17,683.84 of your heathen money-chips).

That's awesome. Tell Davey: Now put that anvil up on that rock pedestal and go take a nap.