Connor’s Pedal for Parkinson’s
Glenfarg boy raises more than £200
A Perthshire youngster has managed to raise over £200 for charity and set himself a personal best by cycling in the Pedal for Parkinson’s earlier this month.
Connor Mackenzie (12) from Glenfarg, who cycles with the Dundee Discovery Juniors, completed the 23-mile course in Stirling in 1:43:25 – beating his personal best by 36 minutes and finishing ninth overall, as well as raising vital funds for Parkinson’s UK.
This is the second year in a row Connor, who attended Arngask Primary School and last week started at Kinross High School, has competed in the Pedal for Parkinson’s.
Dad Rob said: “He has done the 23 mile route and he beat his time by 36 minutes, which is pretty good.
“Last year the weather was horrendous and he was blown off his bike three times, but he carried on regardless.
“He has done a considerable amount of training since then, he really has caught the cycling bug.
“His granny had Parkinson’s disease and died in 2014 and that’s the main reason he does it, he enjoys the challenge of raising money.
“He also been nominated for a JustGiving award for all his fundraising through the JustGiving pages - we don’t know who it was put him forward for it, but obviously someone thinks he is worthy of it.”
Rob added that cycling was not always something Connor enjoyed.
He said: “Cycling is just his chosen sport. He got a bike when he was eight and he had an accident so the bike went away for quite a while.
“But the only way to get over it was to get back on it again! He’s been competing in lots of national competitions and track cycling and he is doing a considerable amount of training at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow. He is certainly winning competitions at a regional level and placing at national competitions, so he is doing well. I Connor Mackenzie from Glenfarg don’t know why he chose cycling, but he just loves it.”
The local lad is now looking to challenge himself to take on the gruelling Etape route in Highland Perthshire next month to raise money for the Haematology Department at Perth Royal Infirmary.
His dad explained: “The next thing for Connor is completing the Scottish Etape route, which will be a huge challenge for him.
“He is practising the course section by section at the moment. He never used to like climbing, but he has become a respectable climber now, the hills don’t phase him because he has become so fit from track cycling.
“He can’t enter the full Etape race because he is too young, but he will be looking to complete the course at the end of September. That will be a challenge for him. But he will be continuing to go to all the national competitions and the Scottish Track League at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.”
• To support Connor’s fundraising efforts, see www,justgiving.com/ fundraising/connor-mackenzie3