Fundraising Andrew completes gruelling 1,000 mile ride

Local fundraiser Andrew Paddison and his support team have completed their challenge to cycle 1,000 miles in 10 days through the heart of Scotland.

Andrew, a Thalidomider who was born with two short arms and one leg, was joined by his team to handcycle the incredible 1,000 miles through some of Scotland’s most challenging countryside.

The start and finish was Stirling Castle and saw Andrew handcycling clockwise across to the west coast, up to Skye and then back across to the east and through the Cairngorms.

His team members were the same as last year: Clare Liley, Helen Millier, Stephen Evans and Alun Roberts. 

“We have returned from our challenge in one piece,” said Andrew. “But that was tough. The back-to-back days of over 100 miles were relentless with no time for rests.

“We normally arrived at our hotels by 6-30pm and by the time we packed the bikes and kit away we didn’t eat until 8pm. Then it was bed by 10-30pm and up and away by 8am the next morning.

“Unfortunately the glorious weather didn’t spread north, Skye was wet, along with the Cairngorms and we climbed twice the height of Everest in the 10 days.”

The event was filmed by leading on-line cycling platform GCN which means that a fly-on-the-wall documentary will be released of this amazingly tough challenge.

To date Andrew and his support team have raised over £4,000 for Place2Be charity - a UK charity focusing on the mental health of children.

A JustGiving site is still open at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teampaddisonchallenge2021