Robin Hood pulls statue across UK and raises thousands

Robin Hood, 66, was a reservist for 30 years. Robin lives near Dumfries, but has fundraised thousands to get veterans back into work by pulling a quarter-of-a-tonne Gordon Highlander soldier statue across the country.

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"People from Carlisle and Dumfries and Galloway have been the main sponsors for the money I've raised," he said.

He became the CEO of Southwest Scotland RNR in 2016, which trains veterans to get a HGV licence.

The statue pulled by Robin Hood (Image: Robin Hood)

"The carving was a tree trunk on the Wednesday of a Douglas Fir, and two-and-a-half days later it was the statue that can be seen today.

"From that day to this, I've pulled it over 2,000 miles and with money raised I've got 68 unemployed veterans off the dole and back into work with a HGV licence."

He added everything donated by the public helps soldiers. "We did some research recently and we're the only charity in Great Britain that does what we do."

When Robin pulled the statue from Dumfries to London in 2018, it took 42 days and raised £100,000.

The statue in Garlieston, Scotland (Image: Robin Hood)

He took over the charity when his son left the Royal Marines after 14 years and had been on hard tours while serving. 

"He had no hope of a job, he was shell-shocked and had PTSD. He's one of 68 people I've got back into work.

"My job satisfaction is phenomenal," he added. "I've single-handedly raised over £350,000 with me and this carving."

Robin said he got the idea to pull the carvings from another fundraising event he completed. 

"My daughter Alex was born with a dreadful condition in 1989," he said. In 1992, Robin was on duty with the reserves and was involved in a serious car accident which left him with PTSD and immobilised for a year.

"I could see my daughter deteriorating. When I got back to full strength I joined my daughter's charity in 1994."

In 1993, DEBRA, which is dedicated to curing epidermolysis bullosa, raised £90,000.

"I trebled it in 1994 and by 2007 I'd got their income up to eight million a year." One way Robin fundraised for DEBRA was pulling Alex in the London Marathon in a converted supermarket trolley, raising £25,000.