It’s Good 2 Give, the charity run by volunteer fundraiser Lynne McNicoll OBE, has turned the turf on a plot of land on the banks of Loch Venacher as work got underway to create The Ripple Retreat.

McNicoll was joined by Tabitha Lawson, age 10, a former cancer patient who received support from the charity at the age of 6 and is now an active ambassador for It’s Good 2 Give.

The new build project will take seven months and will create a three bedroomed 260msq modern home which has been designed to exceptional standards by award winning architect, Tony Kettle, the designer of the Falkirk Wheel.

40 families are expected to use the retreat every year for short breaks of up to 7 nights each and the building will be ready for its first visitors in March 2016.

Lynne McNicoll, chair and founder of It’s Good 2 Give, said: “It’s an incredibly happy day today to see the Ripple Retreat underway. This is my dream ambition for our charity and a tremendous victory. I can’t thank everyone enough for donating to our campaign.”

The campaign to raise £1m hit difficulties earlier this year when Lynne was herself diagnosed with breast cancer. However the ordeal of chemotherapy has made her even more determined to get the project started.

She added: “My own cancer experience has made me more determined to help families coping with a seriously ill child. It is a sad reality that 160,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK. Families are quickly thrown into despair dealing with the news and then can completely breakdown when children, some as young as 2, have to endure chemotherapy.

“These courageous children and their families need help and our gift to them will be a short break at our Ripple Retreat. We are immensely proud to see the start of an incredible legacy for our charity.”

The building of Ripple Retreat takes the charity’s ambition to a new level. The property has been designed on a pro bono basis and the project has received donations and support from a number of companies including John Dennis Construction, Kitchens International, James Morrow, Walker Group and Spifox.

The designer house will be modern and sleek with all the comforts of home including toys, books, games and activities. The house will also benefit from fishing rights on the loch, is next to a national cycle path and is ten minutes from Callander.

The building work starts two months after Lynne was named OBE in the Birthday Honours and in December she travels to Buckingham Palace to receive her honour from HRH Her Majesty The Queen.

To donate to the Ripple Retreat, please visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/RippleRetreat.