The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pensioner brothers due to complete epic cycle
Alastair and Bill’s Land’s End to John o’ Groats trip to raise money for Paul Young Fund
A pair of pedalling pensioners are due to cross the finishing line after a gruelling cycle journey from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to fundraise for the Paul Young Fund.
The Carr brothers, Alastair, 79 from Grange, Errol, and Bill, 68, from Lunanhead, Forfar, took on the 860-mile challenge to raise funds to support their great-nephew, Paul.
The 32-year-old from Errol has pledged to raise awareness of brain tumours and funds for research as he battles an incurable form of the disease.
In August, he was given 12 to 14 months to live following his diagnosis with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumour in adults.
He has pledged to dedicate as much of his life as he can to supporting the Brain Tumour Charity’s efforts to fund research and help fellow patients and their families.
Alastair and Bill took to the saddle to support the fund, leaving Land’s End on June 17 and averaging 80 miles a day on their bikes.
The tenacious pensioners have kept a video diary of their journey, with Bill providing encouragement with his singing.
They made steady progress on their route north, crossing the border into Scotland on Saturday, after fighting off the midges at Eskdalemuir, and continued into Fife and Perth and Kinross on Sunday.
The duo set themselves the target of £250 but smashed through it, with more than £1,140 pledged.
They are expected to climb down from the saddle at John o’ Groats today.
Their journey has been documented on www.carrsonbikes.uk and their fundraising page is www.justgiving. com/fundraising/laura-dryden5
jathomson@thecourier.co.uk