Taking on a 300 mile cycle ride is no easy feat for most, especially for someone who hasn’t been on a bike for over 10 years.
But that is exactly what SSE’s David Fernie is going to do this summer alongside colleague Andrew Sinclair to raise funds for Prostate Scotland.
The dynamic duo from our head office in Perth will be mounting their road bikes and cycling a total distance of 302 miles from London to Brussels this July.
David explains how the challenge came about:
“Prostate Scotland is an important charity to me so I thought a great way of raising money for this fantastic charity and a way of getting fit would be the London to Brussels bike ride. I’m a little nervous about it as I’m pretty much starting from scratch when it comes to exercise. But I have started my training and aiming to gradually increase the miles covered over the coming months.”
Although David’s training began last December, team-mate Andrew is already ahead of the game having become a keen cyclist last year while training for the Maggie’s Bike ‘n’ Hike challenge.
Andrew admits that you don’t need to be a fitness fanatic to take on a mammoth challenge such as this. He said: “At this time last year, I too was dreading going out on my bike on cold winter nights but you get there and strangely, you start enjoying it. Especially when you see the difference it is making to your health and fitness.
“I’m now cycling around 100 miles a week and I get a great buzz from it.
“I’m really chuffed to be joining David on this challenge. Hopefully I can be a real-life example that anyone can do it. I was new to cycling last year but managed to lose four stone in weight through the experience.”
The pair’s combined fundraising target for Prostate Scotland is £3,000. Expenses for the trip have already been paid out of their own pocket, meaning every penny of donations will go straight to the charity.
David adds: “Both Andy and I have been touched by cancer through family and friends so we’re determined to complete the challenge and raise as much as possible in order to help the charity save more lives.”
You can support David and Andrew’s challenge by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/Sinky-Fernie-reallywillspinallthewaytobelgium