Hibs’ fan Hugh Cockburn’s quest to visit all the football stadiums in Scotland to raise money for cancer in memory of Shaun McKinley who sadly passed away after a brave fight with the sarcoma on 31 Dec 2016 is progressing well.
The Sunderland based cyclist who is a member of the St Partick’s Hibernian Supporters Club had already visited 23 clubs before he set off on his latest adventure last week.His next leg will commence next month.
Hugh told the Edinburgh Reporter: “On Tuesday 3 April I took my bike up on the train to Edinburgh and went on to watch Hibs beat Hamilton. the following morning I got the 0620 train to Glasgow and then on to Ayr to continue my quest to cycle to all 42 Scottish Football stadiums.
“Visiting the previous 23 stadiums I had been blessed with dry weather, however my ride to Ayr, Kilmarnock, St. Mirren and Morton was undertaken during snow, sleet, rain and a battle against the wind. At the end of the day I had covered 60 miles and was left freezing and soaking. However I was pushed on by the memory of Shaun and the battle he had fought along with the great spirit of the McKinley family.
“Having stayed overnight in Greenock, I then made the journey across to Dumbarton via the Erskine Bridge. That completed my Stadiums for this leg and I then cycled to Glasgow Central Station, via the ‘Forth and Clyde’ canal cycle route, to catch my train back to Newcastle. Miles covered 30, which gave me a total of 90 miles for the leg. As I cycled along the canal route, I passed Partick Thistle Stadium, so I took the opportunity to re-visit.
“I am now gearing up for my next leg in a months time when I visit, Aberdeen, Montrose, Forfar, Brechin, Arbroath, Dundee, Dundee United and St. Johnstone.”
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.
