Paisley fundraiser Craig Ferguson is to receive the Freedom of Renfrewshire after raising more than £1.3 million for mental health causes.
Councillors agreed to award him Renfrewshire Council’s highest civic honour at a special meeting on Thursday 20th August.
The motion was proposed by Provost Lorraine Cameron and seconded by Councillor Iain McMillan.
Craig has completed three major fundraising challenges. These were his Euro 2024 walk through Germany, a walk across Scotland in 2025 and his World Cup 2026 walk through the United States.
His latest challenge saw him walk around 3,300 miles from Los Angeles to Boston over 108 days.
The money raised is supporting plans by the Scottish Association for Mental Health for Scotland’s first network of walk-in mental health support hubs.
His fundraising for Brothers in Arms is also supporting Blethr, a free wellbeing app designed to help men learn ways to improve their mental health anonymously.
Provost Cameron said: “The freedom of Renfrewshire is not an honour that we bestow lightly. It is the highest civic honour that this council can give to an individual or an organisation, and it recognises people whose achievements have brought distinction to Renfrewshire and whose contribution has made a lasting difference to their community, and I hope that we’re all going to agree today that Craig has earned that distinction.”
She added: “He has made us proud, he has raised an extraordinary amount of money for mental health, he’s encouraged conversations that saved lives, and somehow, along the way, he’s taken not just thousands but millions of people with him.
“So I just want to say today, officially and collectively, Craig Ferguson, you’re one of our own, and Renfrewshire is proud to call you a Freeman of our county.”
Councillor McMillan said: “I’m delighted and honoured for you to ask me, on behalf of the Labour group, to second this motion. Anybody who deserves to get the freedom of Renfrewshire is definitely Craig. Well done, and thanks for all he’s done for us here in Renfrewshire.”
Craig was unable to attend the meeting as he was travelling to Orkney.
Arrangements for the formal presentation will be made by the council’s Director of Finance and Resources in consultation with the Provost.