Caring Caretaker braves -9 temperatures during sit out

the words of Coleraine's Caring Caretaker who braved temperatures of -9 during his annual charity Christmas sit-out.

Davy Boyle, who finished his sit-out on Christmas Eve, began his sub zero stint with 18,000 already in the bank for his chosen charities.

And he is delighted to announce that the final total after his sit-out has come to a staggering 45,288.90!

That means that since he began his charity fundraising in 2002, Davy has now raised a grand total of 243,288.15!

Enjoying a coffee in the Coleraine Times office yesterday morning (Monday), a finally-thawed-out Davy said: "I am over the moon with the total because I had a lot of negative people telling me that I would never meet my target this year.

"The freezing weather made this the hardest year ever but at no time did I ever think of giving up.

"I only had to endure that for a few days but the people that I am raising the money for have to live with hardship every day.

"However it was difficult to hear that I was sitting out there on Christmas Eve morning at 8am and the temperature was -9.

"But the awful weather didn't stop the people of Coleraine and further afield coming out and supporting me and I am so grateful to the people who made their donations this year."

The temperatures dropped so drastically that at one point Davy was wearing FIVE sets of thermals, a freezer suit from Lynas Frozen Foods, a shirt, a fleece, two pairs of trousers, a specially embroidered coat from CT Sport, a red blanket and a Santa suit...not to mention four pairs of socks and a fur hat brought back from Poland especially for him.

But, typically, Davy is quick to pay tribute to everyone but himself.

"I would like to thank all the people who supported me this year by donating money, the congregations of St Patrick's Church, New Row Presbyterian Church, Terrace Row Presbyterian Church and First Coleraine Presbyterian Church for their donations.

"I also want to thank the little children of St Malachy's Primary School who come down to donate money to me every year. It cheers me up when I am sitting out in the middle of town to see all those little ones coming down to drop money in the bucket.

"I also want to thank Mrs Jennifer Campbell of DH Christie Memorial Primary School."

Davy was also kept fed and watered by the local cafes and restaurants in Coleraine. He thanked everyone who brought him food especially Linda from The Forum, Rosie from Martha's House, Christine and Ella from Rendezvous Cafe who provided him with food and hot drinks.

The Lodge Hotel's proprietor Ivor Boyd also treated Davy and his wife Teresa to a meal on Sunday.

Davy thanked the local PSNI for their protection and donations, Joy Clyde for bringing Rosie the Donkey to help with fundraising, Davy's Angels, Lorna Wilmot and Isobel Houston and all the volunteers and counters who helped him, Coleraine Football Club, Hugh Wade and the directors for their donation, The Coleraine Times and his wife Teresa, and family Caroline, Wesley, Joanna, Oliver and Rowan.

The chosen charities which will benefit from Davy's charity fundraising this year are Chest, Heart and Stroke, Motor Neurone Disease Association, NI Hospice, Friends of Willowbrook and the Gateway Club.

"I'm so delighted with the generosity of the people this year and the fact that their help brought the total to over 45,000 that I am pleased to announce that I can now also make a donation to the Causeway Wheelers," said Davy.

There will be an official presentation to the various charities at the beginning of January.