MDC collection duty

Hello guys, i just wanted to tell you all about my first experience of “can rattling” for MDC. It was actually a bucket but you get the idea.

I agreed to meet the lovely Lorna Johnston from MDC, in Dundee at midday. She arrived as planned at our rendezvous point, and issued me with my bucket and orange sash. I was a little reluctant to wear the sash, i knew what kind of attention that might arouse! As it happens, i only had two light hearted digs in that regard.

I felt a little bit awkward at first, but quickly realised that i was much more likely to be ignored than abused! I was like Moses parting the Red Sea, i hope it wasn’t because i looked unapproachable!

After fifteen minutes i had only collected a single £1 coin, i was beginning to feel a little hopeless. That was until a middle aged man approached me and told me his son had Duchenne, he died aged 19. The guy gave me £1 and wished me luck. He returned a few minutes later and gave me a banknote! I didn’t see the denomination, but i was touched by his generocity all the same.

About an hour later, my parents happened to walk by, (what a coincidence, not) that was an easy tenner. I now knew i could take no more money, and still my effort had been worthwhile.

I grimly hung on until 4 O’clock, occasionally moving to a different part of the Murraygate, not that it mattered, most people weren’t stopping.

Since handing my bucket back to Lorna, i have been racked with cramp in all my limbs, i guess 4 hours standing around with a bucket is harder that i first imagined. I have no regrets however, i would do it again.

Ranald