Simon McLaughlin will saddle-up for three hours a day for ten consecutive days beginning next Monday, November 16 – and will do so on a 40-year-old bike fixed-up by Dalbeattie Men’s Shed, sold to him for just £20.
The 55-year-old said he is taking on the challenge after a long spell off his bike, adding: “I’ve only just got back into it so I started last Sunday and did about 25 miles, then Tuesday was about 28, Thursday 32 and about 35 and a half on Saturday, so I’m fit enough to do it now.”
Asked of his motivation to join in on this year’s effort to raise funds for disadvantaged children and young people around the UK, Simon said: “Occasionally I just take a daft turn and decide to do something like this.”
Although slightly more modest than his previous fundraisers, having completed a skydive for the Scouts and even taken part in a European Screwball Rally, Simon recognised the importance of the cause and has already started to see a steady flow of donations coming in.
He said: “Through family and friends we’ve raised just short of £500 for now,” further pledging that his company, Galloway Industrial, will add £500 to the pot. He added: “I’ll get at least £1000 out of it, I’d love to get more though.”
Simon’s progress can be tracked on his Facebook fundraising page ‘Simon’s fundraiser for BBC Children in Need’, where donations can also be made.
