A FUND-RAISING page set up for the victims of the Cameron House blaze has reached its £12,000 target.

Two close family friends, Katie Horbury and Claire Wilson, launched an online fund-raising page to help the families cover the costs of organising funerals and celebrations of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson’s lives.

However, having raised an incredible £9,050 in just five days the pair quickly revised a target of £12,000.

Simon, 32, and Richard 38, had been together for around six years before they perished in the fire which swept through the five-star hotel a week before Christmas.

The tragedy led to heartfelt tributes to the two men, who had been on holiday from London.

Katie and Claire said: “The awareness of what happened at Cameron House has spread so vastly that all of Sie and Dickie’s loved ones have been overwhelmed by the love and support that they have received so far.

“It is a true reflection of how precious the boys were to everyone who knew them.”

In the crowdfunding page, Katie and Claire say: “The hilarious sense of humour, charm, cynicism, sarcasm, not to mention their caring nature, outstanding talent, and the pure joy that these two incredible souls brought to any occasion has left a huge hole in our hearts. Both Sie and Dickie had such hugely infectious personalities and it is a true blessing that we were all lucky enough to have known them.”

They added: “Funeral costs are always high, but because the boys were in Scotland there are even more fees that are making this already difficult time even more stressful.

“This is something that we would really love to be able to relieve as much as possible for both of their families.”

The devastating effects of the fire on December 18 sent shockwaves around the world, with many former hotel guests at home and abroad posting Facebook messages of sympathy to the men’s families and the staff of the hotel.

To donate, visit justgiving.com and search for Sie and Dickie.

Investigations into the fire are continuing.