Rachel swaps her pints for pedals
Pint-pulling rugby player Rachel MacDonald from Oban, who is usually found working behind the bar at Crerar Hotels’ Oban Bay, is preparing to get her wheels in motion.
As part of the hotel group’s support for the campaign to beat Motor Neurone Disease, led by Doddie Weir, the 20-year-old Oban Lorne Ladies winger and former Scotland Under-20s player is one of only three women joining part of The Wounded Lions’ 500-mile charity cycle and the youngest of all the riders.
Led by former Scottish captain and British and Irish Lion Rob Wainwright, the Lions team will carry the Calcutta Cup match ball, strapped to the back of a bike, 500 miles from Twickenham, leaving at noon today (Thursday February 6), to Murrayfield for the start of Scotland’s bid to retain the Calcutta Cup on Saturday February 8.
Alongside Rob, who is leading The Wounded Lions’ core group of cyclists, will be rugby and sporting greats John Hall, Paddy Johns and John Barclay.
Rachel will be joining the ride to see through the final push from Jedburgh rugby club to Murrayfield in time for kick-off, along with Crerar Hotels’ master of wines, Tarquin de Burgh, a former British triathlon world championship competitor.
The Crerar Hotels’ Trust has contributed more than £360,000 towards the fight against MND and its sponsorship of the charity cycle is its latest endeavour in the quest to beat the disease.
Rachel commented: ‘At the age of 20, I’m shocked to admit it’s been a few years since I got on anything more than an exercise bike.
‘I’m sticking to my story that I’ve been too busy with my career at Crerar’s Oban Bay Hotel and Oban Lorne Rugby Club.
‘This will be a real challenge, which I love, and I’m looking forward to the 49 hard miles with The Wounded Lions. It’s a fantastic cause and I’m honoured to be cycling in the Crerar strip alongside some true sporting legends.
‘I just hope these old guys can keep up.’
Crerar Hotels is Scotland’s leading Highland hotel company with the Oban Bay having just under gone a £3 million refurbishment.
Each year they gift more than half of their profits to causes close to their heart, and close to their hotels, through the Crerar Trust.
Previously, a substantial donation was made towards the pioneering work of
MND sufferer and campaigner Euan MacDonald. The contribution provided Edinburgh University with groundbreaking technology, specifically designed to help hunt down an answer.