Former Scotland international rugby greats Gavin Hastings, Rob Wainwright and Roger Baird will be among the former sports stars at BT Murrayfield this Sunday (8 May) when the inspirational ‘Duchenne Dash Max Cycle Ride’ reaches Edinburgh on day two of an eight-day, 1,000 mile cycle ‘dash’ from John O’Groat’s to Paris.
Led by 50 year-old Alasdair Robertson, whose four year old son Felix was diagnosed in 2014 with the fatal genetic condition, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a core team of ten riders left John O’Groat’s yesterday for BT Murrayfield and en route to the French capital. They aim to help raise more than £250,000 to fund vital research into effective treatments for the life-shortening muscle wasting DMD disease that affects an estimated 1 in 3,500 children (99% boys) in the UK and for which there is no cure.
The spirited riders will be joined on various stages of the ride by the likes of former rugby stars Rob Wainwright, Roger Baird, Iwan Tukalo and Will Carling and former Olympians Alain Baxter (alpine skiing) and Greg Searle (rowing).
London based Alasdair Robertson, said: “I am extremely grateful for the tremendous on and off bike support being given by sports stars and business people, including Tiso Group to aid the Duchenne Dash Max Cycle Ride. It promises to be a tough but fun 1,000 mile ride from John O’Groat’s to Paris. After a brief ‘pit stop’ at Scotland’s national rugby stadium, we’ll pedal for London and on 13 May join up with over 100 more riders for the final 24-hour Duchenne Dash to Paris in aid of the Duchenne Childrens’ Trust. All donations towards our fundraising target of £250,000 in aid of research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) will be gratefully received.”
The outdoor retail specialist Tiso Group, incorporating the specialist cycling outlet Alpine Bikes, is supporting the ‘dash’ with technical cycling kit. It’s also providing drinks and sustenance for the riders and guests at the BT Murrayfield Stadium where up to 50 loyal Tiso customers will have the chance to meet and be photographed with the likes of Hastings, Baird and Wainwright. Capped 61 times for Scotland and a former captain of the British & Irish Lions, Gavin Hastings OBE has enjoyed adventures with Tiso for many years.
Referring to the fundraising effort, Gavin Hastings, a Tiso Ambassador, added: “The Duchenne Dash Max Cycle Ride is a fantastic fundraising initiative. With the support of individuals from the world of sport and business, it will hopefully see vital funds raised for research into the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). I wish Ali Robertson and all of the other participants the very best of luck on their epic cycle in aid of a great cause.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
