The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ex-United player rides to success for charity
Former footballer celebrates after conquering serious knee injury that ended his career
Two decades after being told he might never walk again properly a former Dundee United player and young Scotland star is celebrating having conquered the cruciate knee injury that put him out of the game.
Tommy McMillan, who played for Scotland in the Youth World Cup in 1989, completed a 400km bike ride for charity through mountain terrain in Central America.
He cycled with his wife, Petra, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica for Marie Curie, the charity that provides hospice accommodation and free professional nursing to terminally ill people in their homes.
The 44-year-old, who owns a string of pubs and hotels in the central belt, said Petra inspired him to take up the challenge.
She has been fundraising for Marie Curie for seven years since the loss of her mother, Renate Rennie, from Carnoustie.
Together the couple were sponsored for more than £7,000, which became part of a cumulative total of more than £100,000 raised by the 26-strong team of cycling charity workers who joined them on the challenge.
TOMMY MCMILLAN
Petra said: “We did it. Five days, 250 miles, big bad climbs, white-knuckle descents and stupid temperatures. It was awesome, a roller-coaster ride from start to finish.”
The ride was also not without incident or accident though.
A 64-year-old man, Raymond Evans from Liverpool, sustained serious injuries on day two of the ride, a fractured skull, broken collar bone, seven broken ribs and a fractured eye socket.
He is stable in La Managua, Nicaragua, and is not expected to leave there to come home until Wednesday.
Another rider was hospitalised with concussion that day and numerous others suffered from heat stroke and had to take prolonged rests throughout.
Petra said: “It was a tough, tough challenge.
“Marie Curie were terrific and a rep has stayed with Ray the whole time, ensuring excellent care for him.”
Now, on the back of his Central American success and confirmation of his fitness to ride, Tommy is raring to get back on his bike and go again.
He has already signed up for the charity’s Marie Curie Etape Caledonia, an 81-mile road race in Perthshire this May.
Tommy said: “I had to give up football when I sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“I was devastated when I was told I would never play again and I just ploughed all my time and energy into building our business.
“I’m delighted to have found a sport my knee can tolerate and use it positively to help such a brilliant charity as Marie Curie.”
To find out more about the Etape Road Race visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
I’m delighted to have found a sport my knee can tolerate and use it positively to help such a brilliant charity as Marie Curie.