Falkirk Junior Bike Club clocks up 1300 miles in 12-hour hospice fundraising relay

Falkirk Junior Bike Club (FJBC) riders collectively covered over 1300 miles during a 12-hour fundraising relay for the Fankerton-based palliative care facility.

The youngsters were joined by coaches and volunteers on Sunday as the team took on a challenge in which participants tasked themselves with pedalling the equivalent distance of the journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Cyclists were allocated an hour throughout the day, between 8am and 8pm, to bike either virtually or in the great outdoors before passing the virtual baton on to the next club member.

Among those was head coach Fraser Johnston who set off from Larbert at 8am with the aim of cycling as far as he could.

He reached his first stop in Perth just after 10:00am and arrived in Dunkeld before noon.

Fraser then made it to House of Bruar just before 2:00pm, Kingussie by 4:00pm, Carrbridge at 5.30pm and finished in Inverness just shy of 8:00pm, covering 261km in the process.

Strathcarron, which provides specialist care and love to the terminally ill, last week marked its 40th anniversary on the back of what has been arguably its toughest year in existence.

The service has still had to rely heavily on public donations to meet its £12,900 daily running costs throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Fundraisers like FJBC’s epic relay mean the world to all those who work at and count on the hospice.

Jackie Johnston, Strathcarron fundraising manager, said: “We congratulate the club on their efforts, as well as raising this very valuable amount for the hospice.

“Between this year and last, the club has raised enough to pay for a whole day of care so we are speaking to them to find out a special date of their choice.”

A spokesperson for FJBC said: “Over 1300 miles cycled by kids, coaches and volunteers of the club on Sunday and over £6500 raised now by our FJBC 12-hour lockdown relay for Strathcarron Hospice!

“We're leaving our fundraising page live for a few more days – so please consider donating if you haven't done so already. Thank you to everyone who already has.”

Visit the fundraising page to donate.

You can also make a donation to www.strathcarronhospice.net/appeal/40-years-of-care.

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