Wee Ginger Dug: Paul Kavanagh 'immensely grateful' as fundraiser smashes target

THE Wee Ginger Dug blogger has smashed his annual fundraising target saying he is “immensely grateful” to everyone who has supported him.

Paul Kavanagh, the writer behind The Wee Ginger Dug blog and The National's daily newsletter, has reached his target for his annual fundraiser within just one week – and there is still time to donate.

The pro-Scottish independence blog is Kavanagh’s full-time job as he is severely restricted with what work he can do due to suffering from a stroke in 2020 and is permanently disabled.

Kavanagh lost the ability to drive, write with his dominant hand, and walk unaided.

READ MORE: There's no double standards like Labour's double standards

His sole income is between The Wee Ginger Dug and writing part-time for The National, so he set up an annual fundraiser to help “put food on the table and cover the bills” all the while championing all things Scottish independence.

Support for Kavanagh’s work has come flooding in as he surpassed his surpassed his £5000 target in just one week – with the total currently sitting at more than £6000 and with plenty of time to still donate.

The support from his more than 8500 subscribers has humbled the blogger as he is committed to keeping his writing free for everyone to enjoy.

He also said it’s “very heartening” that people are willing to support him financially so he can keep doing what he loves.

He said: “It’s quite humbling actually.

“I’m immensely grateful to everybody who has contributed as I often feel as though I’m ploughing a lonely furrow.

“I’m very happy that it has succeeded, it is a big relief.”

Launching the fundraiser is something that Kavanagh is always anxious about every year.

Not only is crowdfunding an important source of income for him, but he is also well aware there are some people who would love to see him fail.

He said: “It always makes me very apprehensive whenever I launch the annual crowd funder because I am basically asking people to put their money where my mouth is.

“Also, because I know there are quite a few individuals who would love to gloat if it was a failure.

When asked if it must feel nice to prove to those who doubt him wrong, he said: “Exactly, it’s like ha ha ha you don’t get to gloat this year.”

Kavanagh launched the Wee Ginger Dug back in October 2013 and has grown a loyal audience with his amusing and articulate arguments for independence.

At the time when he launched the blog, he was the main carer for his late partner who had vascular dementia.

His late husband was effectively housebound so Kavanagh was unable to take part in any of the independence events he had a keen interest in.

Talking about why he launched the blog he said: “I really wanted to make a contribution and also, more importantly possibly, I needed to do something for the sake of my own mental health.

“I was stuck at home looking after my partner who was permanently ill and who required a great deal of care.”

The blog has played an important role in Kavanagh’s life over the last decade, and his writing attracted the attention of The National’s founding editor, Richard Walker.

The former newspaper editor asked him if he would be interested in being a columnist, a decision Kavanagh hasn’t looked back on, as the Wee Ginger Dug daily newsletter continues to this day.

READ MORE: Calm heads prevail as SNP leadership contest all but over

Looking ahead to the future, he has no plans on stopping anytime soon and is committed to keeping up his support for all things leading to independence.

He said: “I’m determined to continue to support the parties of Scottish independence that actually managed to get elected.

"I’m not going to get dragged down into conspiracy theories and culture war issues.

“I’m going to continue supporting the SNP and the Scottish Greens."

You can support The Wee Ginger Dug via the fundraiser here.