Duloch Spiderman nearly at fundraising target for bike

Dave Roper started a GoFundMe page to help pay for specialist equipment for kids with additional support needs at the Dunfermline school his son goes to.

As the Duloch Spiderman he's completed numerous challenges to raise money for Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital and other good causes, he ran four miles every four hours over the course of 96 hours, went skydiving and even went as far as trekking to Everest Base Camp. 

His efforts helped fund a £57,000 Innowalk Pro and iPads for every class at Calaiswood and he decided to fundraise for the duet bike after going on a family trip in January, where his son was given a manual version to try.

The Duloch Spiderman has raised £19,000 to help buy a duet bike for Calaiswood School in Dunfermline. (Image: Supplied) Dave said his son had “never experienced being at the front of a bike” and after seeing how happy it made him he decided on another challenge, which saw him walk up Ben Nevis with daughter Lucy, 10, and his father-in-law, who is 70 years old.

He added that the experience was: “Fantastic! We couldn’t have asked for better conditions.

“My daughter’s school were going to be doing a Munro and she didn’t get to go, so we made a bit of a last minute decision to check it out.

Two of the paintings that were rescued and sold. (Image: Dave Roper)“Now in my head I want to run up and down and see how fast I can do it!”

His Go Fund Me page for the bike's fundraiser had a target of £19,000, which has been smashed thanks to a generous donation.

Dave posted: "It’s not often that I get a message that makes my eyes water, but this morning I got a message pop up from Lorraine McRoberts asking how best to make a donation.

"She then donated an incredible £1,700! Gave me goosebumps!"

Lorraine previously worked at Dunfermline Building Society HQ, which later became Nationwide. When Nationwide decided to sell the building, all of the old artwork was going to be thrown away.

She saved them from the tip and the paintings were auctioned to raise money, with the proceeds handed over to Spidey's cause. 

Dave added: “I have done quite a bit of fundraising and there’s been so many shock donations like that, but that’s the biggest donation like that from one person.

“My jaw dropped, it was incredible.”

While the Go Fund Me page’s target was £19,000, Dave still has £300 more to raise as the money also goes towards prizes, all the kit, and the bike.

Dave wanted to give a "massive thanks" to people's ongoing support of his charitable efforts.