A SELFLESS fundraiser has launched the fifth edition of his festive foodbank appeal and is calling for help to make this year the biggest yet.

Johnnie Meechan, from Tranent, hosts an annual drive and asks people to either donate money or items such as food, toiletries and cleaning products to help local families in need.

For every item or pound donated, people will be entered into a raffle to win a variety of prizes gathered in previous weeks. 

The money will be collected at the end of the campaign and used to buy items in bulk, all of which will be donated to East Lothian Foodbank, based on Tranent’s Civic Square.

READ MORE: Johnnie's Journey makes massive donation to East Lothian Foodbank

More than 30 businesses from across Tranent, Haddington, Musselburgh and Edinburgh have donated prizes to boost the raffle.

Johnnie, 47, told the Courier: “It was never intended as a permanent thing, but when we did it the first time, it became apparent really fast just how badly it was needed.

“We’re quite fortunate, we’ve got followers who always tend to help everything we do, we’re quite blessed that way.

“I’m just hoping this year is the same.

“You never know how it’s going to go because it’s a tough time of year for everybody.

"Everybody’s penny-pinching so they can afford their own Christmas for their families, it’s understandable, so you’re just hoping they can slip a wee bit aside for you.”

Johnnie and his wife Evie

Johnnie was diagnosed with neuroendocrine (NET) cancer in 2016 and has since been raising awareness through his charity, Johnnie’s Journey.

He supports local and international charities through a range of causes, including his annual foodbank drive for families in East Lothian who require extra support.

Johnnie has his six-monthly scan in the coming week to see if there is any progression and said that at the moment he was “just ticking along”.

He said: “I’ve known this from the start, it could change at any time for any reason. 

“I kind of just roll with it – it is what it is, I can’t change that. 

“I’ve been ill for the best part of 26 years of my life, in and out of hospitals – I’m kind of just known for that, it becomes who you are.

“If I am getting my time cut short, I’d rather go out known as something more than that, doing something that matters, so it’s kind of a part of that.”

Ahead of this year’s foodbank appeal, Johnnie has been alarmed by the amount of help needed for people and is determined to do all he can to help.

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Throughout November, Johnnie and team were working in the background to gather gifts and raffle prizes.

He added: “Every year it just gets worse and worse. The demand for help keeps increasing. It’s a bit scary to be honest, a sign of the times I suppose.”

The appeal went live on Sunday and will run until December 22.  

On the following day, Johnnie will deliver the donated items to the foodbank.  

Contribute the the fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-east-lothian-foodbank-community-groups

For drop-off or pick-up of donations, message Johnnie’s Journey Facebook page.