Fantastic Fundraising Cycle to Success from Care PR

A CYCLING group from Aberdeen has tackled a 220 mile cycle from Inverness to Campbeltown in just four days raising over £3,000 for charity.

John Halliday, 39, and the ‘Cyclepaths’ took on the journey along the Kintyre peninsula to raise money for two charities close to John’s heart – Bield and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.

John said: “The cycle was very challenging as we climbed around 13,000 feet as part of the 220 mile cycle. The weather changed a lot over the four days and we were graced with good weather for the start but the last two days were a wash out.

“We were glad to see the finish line and after a long drive back to Aberdeen that signalled the end of the trip.

“We’ve done a few cycles like this before in the past such as Inverness to John O’groats and from Aberdeen to Mallaig.

“However, we were still apprehensive for this cycle. We are all getting a bit older and don’t recover as quickly as we used to! But we’re were still extremely excited to see another part of Scotland that we haven’t covered before.

“We collected donations through a Virgin Money Giving page, and the support we received was just incredible and we managed to raise £3,135!”

The charities were chosen in memory of John’s aunt, Yvonne, and Stuart Birnie, a close friend of the group, who passed away after suffering from an arterial embolism.

Yvonne was a tenant at Bield’s St Andrews Court development in Broxburn for eight years. John wanted to raise money for the housing development to say thanks for the care she had received during her time there.

The ‘Cyclepaths’ are a team of five cyclists and a driver who worked together to complete the four day cycle. The group have been training hard in preparation for the upcoming challenge.

Kevin Rowe, Bield Fundraiser, said: “We are incredibly grateful that John and the ‘Cyclepaths’ chose to raise money for us.

“Yvonne was a much valued member of our community and will be sorely missed.

“We have already decided to use some of the money raised to get a wooden bench in the garden with a memorial plaque.

Bield are grateful for any donations which enable them to help all their tenants be ‘Free to Be’ and live their lives in the way they choose as much as possible.