Ex-Dunfermline star Joe Cardle fundraises for Victoria Hospital

The 37-year-old, who won two league titles in two spells as a Dunfermline player, hosted up to 110 youngsters at a recent in-service day event at Dunfermline Learning Campus.

Joe, who founded the Joe Cardle Academy four years ago, offered places on a first come, first served basis for free - on the provision that a donation was made to his fundraising drive for the children's ward at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Nat Wedderburn, a former Pars and Cowdenbeath player, currently with Stenhousemuir, is one of the academy's coaches. (Image: David Wardle.)

Together with his wife, Lucy, and their daughters, Josie-Anne and Lyla-Jo, Joe has raised money and collected items for young patients at the hospital each year following the birth of Lyla-Jo.

She arrived eight weeks prematurely, weighing just 3lbs 6ozs, and her parents went through the trauma of not being able to take her home while she was being looked after at the Special Care Baby Unit for three weeks.

They then decided to raise money for the fitting and maintenance of baby cams in premature baby incubators, before continuing to offer their support by organising collections at Christmas and Easter.

Last Christmas, more than £3,500 worth of presents were donated, and Joe, who also starred for Kelty Hearts, said: "We're very well fully booked every night for the one-to-ones and the group sessions and, obviously, we do our camps when the kids are off school.

READ MORE: 'Top level' pros have helped former Par Joe's academy 'build a really good platform'

"We thought that, with Christmas upcoming, and obviously trying to raise some money for the children's hospital, it would work hand-in-hand.

"We thought we'd put on a free camp, and obviously to book a place was a donation. All the money that's raised with this camp is going towards our collection for the children's hospital.

"It sold out within 35 minutes. We had 574 messages over the two days once we put it up, which was incredible, so it just shows you that obviously people are desperate to get in the door at one of our camps."

In addition, Joe has teamed-up with Dunfermline eatery, Casa Mia, who produced limited edition football tops to sell at the camp, to boost the fundraising efforts, whilst raffle prizes include a signed Scotland top, and pair of boots, from Real Madrid star Caroline Weir.

"Last year, I think we raised around £5,000. So we're hoping to be beating that this year," Joe continued.

"I say it every year about how good they were, and how much we've got to thank them for, for what they've done with both of our girls.

"No matter how many times we go back to the hospital, we're worthy of the work that they do day-to-day, not just for my kids. Obviously, my two girls had spent a lot of time there when they were first born, but a lot of the children that come into the academy day to day, there's obviously stories all the time with kids that are attending the sessions.

Joe Cardle has been running his academy since 2020. (Image: David Wardle.) "It's something that we like to do obviously a couple of times a year.

"The Christmas one's a special one, just because obviously the money that we managed to raise, and we obviously try and better it each year. There's a lot of work that goes in on behind the scenes with Lucy - she does a lot of work for obviously the raffle and the camps and everything else.

"So, when it's sold out within 35 minutes, it just kind of said it all, that everyone's pushing in the right direction. Some of the donations that have been handed in have been amazing.

"It's a fantastic cause. It's something that we'll look to carry on for as long as we carry on.

"It goes to show that obviously the camps obviously sell out very quickly, but to go towards a good cause, it always helps.

"The academy's flying. We're loving life - it's such a great environment to be working in daily."