Cyclists’ epic trek for tragic Keiran

Two keen cyclists will tackle a mammoth challenge to mark what would have been the 18th birthday of a mountain biker who died last year.

Ian Walker and Shaun Kerr both work as surveyors for Moray Council, but spend much of their free time exploring the local countryside on their bikes.

They were touched by the death of Keiran McKandie last March, when he was knocked from his bike by a car.

Keiran loved downhill mountain biking and often used the same routes as the men.

On Saturday – which would have been Keiran’s 18th birthday – the pair have decided to embark on their toughest challenge yet in his honour. Mr Walker, 54, and Mr Kerr, 28, will travel 236 miles in just 23.6 hours as a way of marking the date.

They will pedal from Ardnamurchan lighthouse on the west coast to Boddam lighthouse, the most easterly point of the Scottish mainland.

Money raised from the fundraising effort will go to the charity Keiran’s parents have formed to provide police vehicles with lifesaving defibrillator devices.

Mrs McKandie last night met the men, and said: “This time of year is really hard for us, especially to think that Keiran should be turning 18.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/ lighthouse2lighthouse