***UPDATE 2***

We’re flabbergasted. When we discussed doing this we were sure we would manage to raise enough funds to give Jim a lovely send off but the response has been amazing and it has been humbling to read all the messages so many of you have sent along with donating. We now have enough to cover Jims funeral and make a donation to our chosen charity the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation HOWEVER we are aware of a large number of people who want to donate and haven’t had the chance so we’ve decided to really go for it and raise the target to £10,000. Crazy? Possibly. But you don’t get anywhere without trying! Please be assured that you will still be contributing to the Big Man’s funeral but we are now actively collecting for Doddie’s charity too (in Jims name). So, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP US and share this page everywhere. Facebook. Twitter. Your local. We don’t care where! Let’s make this happen in for our pal Jim!

***END UPDATE 2***

***UPDATE***

We have been astounded by the incredible response and generosity shown by everyone who has donated so far so have taken the decision to raise the target to the £5000 we know will provide Jim with a fantastic send off and also allow us to make a meaningful donation to the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

***END UPDATE***

As many of you will be aware we recently lost our good friend and colleague James McDougal (aka ThaDoogal, Big Jim and Shrek!). It has been a huge shock to everyone who knew him and I think I speak for everyone when I say he will be greatly missed. During his all too short time on this earth he amassed a large number of friends and over the last 48 hours myself, Dave and Scott have been amazed (though not surprised) by the outpouring of love and respect that has been shown for him. (For those of you who don’t know Jim was Scott’s best man around 6 weeks ago and would have been Daves best man on May 4th when he ties the knot). I can't mention everyone here but I know that along with Dave W and Scott M, David F (myself), John T, Dave R, Adam T and Brian M would like to express their thanks to anyone who has got in touch with them to pass on their condolences.

I'd also like to make a couple of special mentions:

Firstly to the staff at both Malones Edinburgh and Amarone Edinburgh, especially Fraser from Amarone and Danny from Malones, who have both gone out their way to help us over the last 48 hours (way above the call of duty).

Secondly to Scottish Rugby who have also gone above and beyond the call of duty already with their offers of help (details of this will follow) and to all the people who worked at Murrayfield and in the wider rugby community that Jim called friends.

Jim didn’t really have a big family but I have spoke to his Aunt Moira who has agreed that it would be fitting, with her help, if we organised his funeral. As I am sure you are all too painfully aware funerals are expensive and we estimate that at a bare minimum it will cost around £3000 for even the most basic funeral and perhaps up to around £5000 to give him the send off we think he deserves. We have however been approached by a number of people who are keen to help with the costs and so we have decided to set up this Just Giving page with an initial target of £3500 to help pay for the funeral. We would also like to make a donation to a charity in his name and therefore anything we collect that isn’t needed for his funeral costs will be donated to the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, Jim was a big rugby man and we think he would be extremely happy to know that he had helped out the charity!

Be generous but please also give within your means, Jim wouldn't want anyone stretching themselves in his name. That being said I would like to sign off in the style of Jim himself by simply saying....

..."C'mon ya bawbags, give us yer cash!"

RIP mate, it's been fabulous having you in all our lives!