Hibs’ fan Hugh Cockburn has completed his latest charity bike ride in memory of fellow St Patrick’s Branch member Shaun McKinley who sadly passed away after a brave fight with cancer on 31 Dec 2016.
Last week Hugh rode from his home in Sunderland to Berwick where he visited Shielfield Park, the home of Berwick Rangers as part of his campaign to visit every Scottish football stadium.
The trip took two days with 85 miles covered last Thursday and 109 miles covered on the return leg the following day.
Next month he intends to visit the stadiums of Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Raith, East Fife, Alloa, Stirling Albion, Stenhousemuir and Falkirk.
Earlier this year, fittingly on the anniversary of Hibs’ Scottish Cup win, Hugh completed a charity bike ride of 152 miles, visiting 12 stadiums between Easter Road and Hampden Park raising over £1000 for Sarcoma cancer uk.
Hugh told the Edinburgh Reporter: ” When I heard Shaun had cancer I was devastated for him and his lovely family.
“I attended Shaun’s funeral and the turnout was amazing and I realised then that I wanted to do something to ‘honour’ him and the McKinley family.
“It has been in the back of my mind to attempt to cycle to all the senior Football grounds in Scotland but the logistics and ‘time away’ from family is a concern. I decided that it is possible to do in stages.
“I am hoping to do another stage sometime next month, which will include the Fife clubs. All stages will be in memory of Shaun, as the banner says, “Shaun McKinley, live forever”
Three years ago, Hugh took part in a charity bike ride from London to Edinburgh to raise funds for the St Patrick’s Branch of the Hibs’ Supporters Club’s campaign to purchase a fitting memorial to club legend Dan McMichael.
The 444 mile journey began at Tower Bridge on Friday 3 May 2013, and Hugh averaged well over 100 miles per day before arriving in the capital on the following Monday.
The cycle is a sponsored event in aid of cancer, so if you can, please give any contribution by visiting the St Patrick’s Branch donation page and mark your donation Hugh’s Shaun McKinley cancer appeal.
Donations can also be made on Shaun’s Just Giving page.
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.
