The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
P&J staff get on their bikes for ARCHIE cash
Challenge: Cyclists cover road and miles to Dundee for charity
Press and Journal staff were among dozens of cyclists pushing themselves to the limit yesterday to raise funds for two children’s hospitals.
AberDee 100 challenged DC Thomson staff to show off their pedalpowerbyriding from the P&J’s Lang Stracht office to the publisher’s Kingsway headquarters in Dundee. More than 40 members of staff from the P&J, Evening Express, Courier and Evening Telegraph took part in the event, which raised funds for the ARCHIE Foundation.
The event, which has raised close to £2,500 for the Royal Aberdeen Children’sHospitalandTayside Children’sHospital, wasorganised by Neil Mackland, head of newspaper sales.
Mr Mackland, who took part in the challenge, said: “Everyone seemed to enjoy it and there were no major incidents thankfully.
“The conditions were perfect, we finished just before the rain came on.
“There was a great atmosphere, great camaraderie, people were cycling alongside others they didn’t necessarily know because they work in different offices.
“When we got to Dundee there was a crowd waiting to greet us.”
The group cycled through Strachan, Stonehaven, Brechin, then down the coastal road to the City of Discovery.
First tocomplete the100- mile trip was The Courier’s online editor Richard Rooney who crossed the line shortly before 4pm after setting off at 8.30am.
This year was the first of its kind but Mr Mackland, who is a keen cyclist, says the wheels are already in motion for a return event next year.
He added: “We hope to do it again next year but maybe in reverse, from Dundee to Aberdeen, and attract more people.
“There was a whole mix taking part, from those who hadn’t done very much cycling to more experienced people, so it’s getting people out on their bikes as well. We chose ARCHIE because we could split the money between the two cities.”
A major upgrade of the RACHis already underway which aims to make the hospital a world-class facility.
“We hope to do it again next year but maybe in reverse”