Big-heartedScots lad raffles Scotland Euro 2024 ticket for kids charities

A selfless teen has passed up the chance to see Steve Clarke’s men kick-off their Euro 2024 campaign in the flesh – so he can help children in need.

Mitchell Carling secured a ticket for the much-anticipated opening clash in this summer’s tournament, between Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

But the big-hearted 16-year-old, of Dundee, has decided to host a raffle in aid of children’s charities, JDRF and Caudwell Children instead in the hope of raising thousands.

In 2022 he got his hands on two Europa League Final tickets and raked in more than £46,000 for charity by raffling the Rangers v Eintracht Frankfurt briefs.

Instead of heading to Germany with the Tartan Army, he will take in the match on Scottish soil with his family by his side, and he hopes his decision to once again miss out on a hotly anticipated match means others will benefit.

He explained: “When I decided to raffle the Europa League Final tickets although I knew the tickets were in demand, I never dreamed I’d raise almost £50,000 for charity.

“Since that draw I’ve always wanted to do another, and when I managed to get tickets to the opening match of the Euro 2024 tournament, I knew I had the potential to do more good.

“The two charities I have picked to support are close to our family. JDRF because of the support they gave my little sister when she was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes, and Caudwell Children because we have seen the work they do and how many people they help.

“The winner will have an incredible time in Germany, I’ll be cheering on the team with my family, hopefully with the knowledge that I’ve done some good by raising a lot of money for great charities.”

The prize draw is being run through online fundraising website Crowdfunder and aims to raise as much money as possible to be split evenly between the charities.

JDRF is a Type-1 Diabetes research charity, while Caudwell Children was founded to support the lives of disabled and autistic children across the UK.

The draw gives people the chance to donate £20 in return for one raffle entry, with multiple entries being allowed. The draw closes at noon on Thursday June 6, and tickets can be purchased here.

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