The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cyclist Beaumont given special stateside award
Cyclist Mark Beaumont has been presented with a Great Scot Award during a glittering ceremony in America.
The Perthshire-raised world record-breaking adventurer received the prize from the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA during a fundraising gala in New York.
The 35-year-old was recognised for his cycling achievements and philanthropy towards young people in Scotland.
He first broke the record for cycling round the world in 2008 and completed another record-breaking bike trip last September, going round the globe in 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes.
Helen Sayles, chairwoman of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, said they were thrilled to honour the athlete.
She said: “We are simply delighted to honour Mark Beaumont, who inspires Scots and Americans by pushing the limits of what is possible both physically and mentally.
“In addition to his extraordinary 18,000-mile journey last year, Mark is a philanthropist who cares deeply about the development of young people in Scotland and around the world.”
Accepting the award, Edinburghbased Beaumont thanked the NTS USA for the “wonderful touch” when they surprised him by flying in his mother, Una Beaumont, adding that “family has been at the heart of everything I do”.
He continued with recollections of his personal and professional trips to North America.
On his first visit as an 18-year-old, he experienced the unlikely feeling of being a “celebrity for a day in New York” when he happened upon the Tartan Day parade and “nipped back to the hotel to grab my kilt because we always have a kilt with us”.
He acknowledged his cycling team of 40 for the recent success of the Around the World in 80 Days challenge and recognised his family and guests in the room for their support. He added: “Without their support my achievements would not have been possible.”
The trust’s USA Foundation is based in Boston and was established in 2000.
Previous winners of the Great Scot award include Billy Connolly, Alan Cumming, author Alexander McCallSmith and Christopher Forbes, founder of Forbes Magazine.