Friends raise more than £8500 in memory of RNLI volunteer Ryan on Wick to Scrabster run
Friends of a Thurso lifeboat volunteer who lost his life earlier this year have raised more than £8500 in his memory after running from Wick to Scrabster.
Ryan Davidson passed away in March, five months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 25.
Three of his friends – Liam Forbes, Andrew Adamson and Jack Fidler – decided to raise money for ward 5A at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where Ryan was cared for before spending his final weeks at home.
Ryan, known to his friends as Rusty, joined the lifeboat service five years ago and he had worked as a fisherman on the Wick-registered Boy Andrew since 2018.
Liam, Andrew and Jack came up with the idea of running from Wick lifeboat station to the Thurso RNLI base at Scrabster harbour and set up an online fundraising page.
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15 / 15The trio left Wick at 8am on Saturday and, after a detour to Halkirk and then Springpark, arrived in Scrabster just before 2pm. They were helped along the way by Adam Gunn, Tom Ross, Scott Allan, Kuba Koziol, Douglas Metcalfe and Declan Campbell.
Members of the Thurso lifeboat crew arranged a barbecue and refreshments for when the runners arrived in Scrabster and a large group of Ryan’s friends and relatives, including crew members of the Boy Andrew, turned out to welcome them.
The Run for Rusty GoFundMe page has raised £8510 so far for the ward 5A endowment fund.
The fundraising page highlights the "great care" Ryan received in Raigmore. Liam, Andrew and Jack say they hope that by raising money for the nurses of 5A "we can help make a difference to those who helped and gave so much time to our friend".
Ryan's father, Kevin, and older brother Lewis also serve on the Thurso lifeboat.
Thurso RNLI press officer Ron Gunn said: "This is a marvellous achievement and wonderful thing to do in the memory of Ryan, who obviously meant so much to his friends.
"The amazing amount raised shows what the community thought of Ryan and is also a recognition of the fantastic work the staff in ward 5A in Raigmore do.
"Ryan is a great loss to all at Thurso lifeboat station and the crew didn't hesitate to make a donation to the very worthy cause. They were also pleased to be able to contribute to the event by providing a barbecue and refreshments on the day."
Ryan was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma last October and spent four months undergoing treatment at Raigmore.
At the time of Ryan's death, Kevin said he had been "overwhelmed" by the response from the community.
Covid-19 restrictions meant only 20 people could attend the funeral service but RNLI crew members and representatives of the emergency services were among those who stood in silent tribute, socially distanced, as the hearse passed Scrabster harbour in front of the lifeboat. Members of the public lined the streets to show their respects as the funeral procession continued towards Thurso cemetery, where RNLI members formed a further guard of honour.
A GoFundMe page in memory of Ryan raised £33,220 with the money divided equally between Thurso lifeboat and the Fishermen's Mission, two causes that were close to his heart.
Ryan had been due to marry his partner Nicola McTurk next year.