Donations to save the Waverley have now passed £500,000 following the iconic steamship’s withdrawal from service earlier this summer.
The major appeal, which was officially launched in June,aims to raise the £2.3m needed to reboiler Waverley and return her to service next year.
Waverley’s general manager Paul Semple said: “Thanks to the fantastic public response to our Save The Waverley Boiler Refit Appeal we have reached a key milestone in our fundraising campaign.
“To date over 4,000 individuals have donated with some of our core supporters giving a ‘once in a lifetime donation’ knowing that we urgently need funds to secure Waverley’s future.
“In addition, we have received offers of help from several organisations and companies, but we will need further help to get Waverley’s paddles turning again.”
Several fundraising events have taken place in the various towns and villages which Waverley serves.
Locals and visitors from Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae showed great support to 4-year-old Ethan Pringle last weekend by donating over £1,600 when he undertook the 10-mile trip round the island in his wheelchair to collect funds for Waverley. Ethan having commented “The Waverley is broken. We need to fix it.”
Mr Semple added “With the new boilers already on order we must increase our efforts to secure further funding to allow our plans to progress which will see Waverley undergo major surgery commencing in January.
“I am exceptionally grateful to everyone who has come forward to help us Save The Waverley and with continued support she will sail again.
We simply can’t allow her to remain static. She is the sole survivor and I know so many people are willing her to succeed.”
Waverley is currently berthed in Glasgow where preparation works are on-going by her engineers and volunteers.
Earlier this week the first section of deck was cut open to enable some large components in the ship’s boiler room, which are already dismantled, to be lifted free.
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