20 Years of Giving: A Personal Journey, A New £500,000 Challenge!
Wow, 20 years! It feels like just yesterday I embarked on what I thought would be a quick fundraising challenge. The goal back then was to raise £50,000 before my 50th birthday. Little did I know, that "short journey" would blossom into two decades of dedicated work including for our incredible charity, It's good 2 give.
It's been a journey filled with incredible highs and, inevitably, some challenging lows, both personally and for the charity. But through every twist and turn, our mission has remained steadfast: to support young cancer patients in Scotland in every way we can.
The Heart of What We Do
Over the past two decades, we've had the privilege of making a tangible difference in the lives of countless young people and their families. Our support comes in a myriad of ways:
The Ripple Retreat: This stunning, award-winning retreat sits on the serene shores of Loch Venachar in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. It offers young cancer patients and their families much-needed and free short breaks, a chance to escape, relax, and create precious memories away from the hospital environment.
Mental Health Support: We know the emotional toll a cancer diagnosis takes. That's why we're so proud to fund four dedicated psychologists across central Scotland, providing vital mental wellness support to those who need it most.
Essential Comforts and Equipment: From providing comforting parent and patient packs to cheering up young patients with Lottie Dolls and supplying much-needed medical equipment, we strive to ease the burden wherever we can.
We truly recognise the immense struggles that patients and families face, not just during treatment, but in the challenging period of recovery and beyond. Every service we offer is designed to bring a little light and support during incredibly difficult times.
A New Chapter: The £500,000 Challenge
As I mark this incredible 20-year milestone in my fundraising journey, and with my 70th birthday approaching at the end of 2026, I'm setting my sights on a new, ambitious goal. While the initial target was £50,000, the rising costs of supporting our vital services – particularly for our psychologists' posts and the running of The Ripple Retreat – mean we need to do more.
That's why I'm making my new target £500,000!
This is a significant challenge, ten times my original goal, but I know it's absolutely doable with your help. I will be calling on every bit of support from our incredible community, and with your dedication and generosity, we can continue to deliver on our promise to support young patients across Scotland.
Will You Join Me?
Reaching this £500,000 target means we can continue to expand our vital services and ensure that young cancer patients and their families receive the comprehensive support they deserve.
How can you help us make this happen? There are hundreds of fun and successful ways to get involved!
Donate Directly: Every single pound makes a difference. You can make a secure donation here.
Attend an Event: Join us for an evening of fun and fundraising! Mark your calendars for our annual Ball in November 2025 and October 2026, or get ready for some sparkle at Edinburgh Blingo in 2026.
Charity of the Year: Is your workplace looking for a charity to support? Please consider taking It's good 2 give on as your Charity of the Year!
Organise Your Own Event: Get creative! Host a bake sale, a plant sale, a coffee morning, or a quiz night. Every community event, no matter how big or small, contributes to our goal.
Sell for Good: Clear out those cupboards! Sell unwanted items on eBay or Gumtree and donate the proceeds.
This challenge is personal to me, but its success depends on all of us. Together, we can ensure that young cancer patients and their families continue to receive the comfort, support, and hope they so desperately need.
Let's make these next few years count for young cancer patients across Scotland. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey and for considering joining our biggest challenge yet!
Lynne McNicoll
Co-Founder and Chair, It’s good 2 give