Just over three years ago, The Edinburgh Reporter covered Baberton man Andrew Dickson’s two month cycle trip between Perth on the west coast of Australia and Brisbane on the east coast of Queensland which raised much needed funds for charity.
On that occasion, the money raised went to Radio Lollipop and the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund which was set up in the memory of the young Falkirk footballer who was killed when a net catcher he was instructed to move during a training session struck an overhead cable.
This wasn’t the 60-year-old’s first adventure as the previous year he cycled across America from the Pacific to the Atlantic in memory of his wife Aileen who passed away in 2006, raising awareness of dementia (especially in younger people). The trip raised £7000 for his chosen charity, Alzheimer Scotland.
This year he has decided on a change of scenery and on 23rd May he will set out from Vancouver on a 5000 mile bicycle trip across Canada, hoping to arrive in Halifax Nova Scotia by the 23rd August.
Andrew will be cycling alone and unsupported, with all the necessary equipment, camping gear and clothing being carried on his bike.
The trip, which is totally self funded, will hopefully raise money for three very worthwhile charities that in their own ways help to make a real difference in the treatment and care of children and young people in hospital.
The chosen charities are:
The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund: https://www.facebook.com/craig.fund
Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh (FACE): http://www.face.scot
Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF): www.edinburghsickkids.org
A Virgin Money Giving page will accept donations. To access, please click this link:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/
insert `Andrew Dickson` in the search field and select `Cycling Across Canada` in the next screen. Note: The first Andrew Dickson on this screen is another person)
Andrew said: “Please donate what you can, as every penny counts and will be put to good use.
“If you are eligible to claim gift aid, please do so by completing the relevant section as this will increase the value of your donation by about 25% at no extra cost to yourself.
“Please share this post. An open Facebook page will be used to detail progress and upload photos during the trip.
“I appreciate your support and thank you for visiting this page.”
Regular updates will be provided on the Edinburgh Reporter’s website.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
