The fundraising efforts from Heart of Midlothian fans, led by Big Hearts, will provide 750 people with the opportunity to attend the Scottish Cup semi-final this afternoon at Hampden Park.

At the start of the week, the club's charity arm set out to give as many supporters, who would not normally be able to go, the chance to attend the fixture with Rangers as possible..

The response to the initiative has been incredible with £28,500 raised in less than a week. As well as the 750 match tickets, Big Hearts has distributed £6,600 to help with transport, including bus and train, along with £5,000 in kiosk vouchers and a further £2,100 in Hearts’ scarves.

READ MORE: How Hearts can beat Rangers and end Hampden hoodoo at long last

The 750 match-going fans, of which 44 per cent are young people, have come from adult and children programmes run by Big Hearts or groups supported by partner organisations. There will be pupils attending from Tynecastle High, Fairhill and Wester Hailes, refugees/new Scots, large families, families in kinship care, fans who can't afford to attend Hearts games or haven't been to Hampden in years. 

"As a charity based at Tynecastle Park, we embrace our unique position in the local community to create positive social change," the organisation said. "We’re proud to be Hearts’ charity and to change lives through the power of football.

We would like to thank again anyone involved in Taking Big Hearts to Hampden: the club, Foundation of Hearts, ticket office, partner organisations, supporters’ clubs and all the Jambos who have demonstrated once again that we are more than football. Thank You!"