A group of 60 cyclists will set off today on an epic 250-mile trip across Scotland as they aim to raise £100,000 for four charities.
During the next three days, the cyclists, all of them former or current BP staff, will tackle challenging climbs, fatigue, saddle sores and the unpredictable Scottish weather while they ride from Gretna Green to Aberdeen in the BP Coast to Coast challenge.
This is the ninth such event and more than £1million has already been raised for a variety of Scottish charities.
Over the course of three days, the riders will take in Gretna, Lockerbie, Livingston, Perth, Dundee, Stonehaven and Aberdeen.
This year, the money raised will be split between MND Scotland, CREW, Glasgow Disabled Scouts and Roxburghe House.
And for many of the participants, the latter charity has a very personal resonance.
Last June, Adrian Shaw, a former Coast to Coast rider died of cancer and spent the last few weeks of his life being cared for by Roxburghe House.
MND Scotland funds research and provides support for sufferers of motor neurone disease.
This disease slowly kills the nervous system and the control of the muscles that keep humans mobile and alive. MND also has a personal connection to the BP group because it shortened the life of their good friend Ian Bowen.
CREW reaches over 45,000 people in Scotland annually in dealing with alcohol and drugs issues and tries to positively influence the people it reaches to make better life choices.
Glasgow Disabled Scouts look after over 70 kids with varying degrees of physical disability.
Coast to Coast organiser Jon Turnbull, a wells engineering authority with BP North Sea, said: “Once again, this will be a demanding ride.
“But all the hard work will be well worth it, particularly for the charities we are supporting.”
BP North Sea Regional President, Mark Thomas, will be taking part and added: “The Coast to Coast challenge has been a great success, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for many worthy causes.”
Anyone who wishes to donate to the group should visit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/c2c9
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