WEE Ginger Dug author Paul Kavanagh is hoping to find the anonymous donor who gave £20,000 to his health fundraiser.
As he currently lives in a top-floor flat, the pro-independence blogger and National contributor was hoping to raise £50,000 to help him buy a new home suitable for his needs after a stroke left him paralysed down one side.
Earlier today Kavanagh went online to check if his fundraiser had met the £30,000 mark, having been just £100 short hours earlier.
He was stunned by what he saw. “I thought it said £20 at first,” he told The National. “I did a double take and realised it was £20k.
“I nearly had another stroke.”
READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug author Paul Kavanagh launches fundraiser after suffering stroke
The fundraiser has now topped the £50,000 target.
The writer paid tribute to the anonymous donor, explaining how much the cash will change his life.
“Now we can definitely buy a new house so I want to thank them,” Kavanagh said.
“I want to know who it is so I can thank them. I would tell them thank you. It means I don’t need to worry about not having somewhere to live suitable for my needs. The things you took for granted are the things you worry about it.
“Now I can live a normal life and be normal. They’ve given me a future back, along with everybody else who donated. I’m getting a bit teary now. Thank you to National readers for all their support.”
The National is also asking the donor to come forward – we guarantee we will preserve your anonymity.
The amazing act of generosity comes after Kavanagh suffered a very difficult few weeks.
READ MORE: How The National will be helping Paul Kavanagh, and how you can too
After being hospitalised with a stroke, the writer’s dog Ginger – the namesake of his Wee Ginger Dug blog – had to be put to sleep following a struggle with arthritis.
The National has been supporting Kavanagh with free adverts in the newspaper and by commissioning new weekly articles for the rest of the year.
For the extra columns, which will run until Christmas, we will be paying Kavanagh above our usual rate and providing support to help him with the writing process.
We wish Paul all the best – the independence movement can’t do without him.
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