Two Perthshire pensioners, quick approaching their seventieth birthdays, have efficiently accomplished an epic, 225-mile cycle problem across the Large County - and past - to assist increase money for prostate most cancers.
Jim Thomas, of Catmoor Street, Scone, and Davie Ramsay, of Langside Street, Perth, have been collaborating within the Grand Lodge of Scotland “Make it a Million” attraction in support of Prostate Scotland.
That concerned them biking to the 17 lodges within the Province of Perthshire East, together with one within the Province of Fife and Kinross, the place they have been offered with cheques, to this point totalling virtually £1000, together with messages of assist.
On the identical time, the pair, who've been likened to Jack and Victor within the hit TV sequence ‘Nonetheless Sport’ due to their pleasant banter, arrange a JustGiving web page on Fb.
That has already raised a whole bunch of kilos to assist fund analysis into Scotland’s most typical most cancers.
Jim is a previous grasp of Lodge Scoon and Perth No. 3 and Davie is a grasp mason of Lodge Stormont No. 1524. Each have had their very own well being challenges to face up to now.
And Jim is at the moment awaiting extra checks earlier than he begins his personal prostate most cancers remedy.
Following a scan at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital and additional investigations at PRI, the 68-year-old was informed simply final week that biopsy outcomes had proved optimistic.
“This can be a charity very near each of our hearts,” Jim defined yesterday.
“One in each two males in Scotland will endure from prostate issues of some type or different of their lifetime, whereas one in 10 is prone to contracting most cancers.
“The excellent news, nonetheless, is that extra males are surviving the illness - and there's a welcome enhance within the numbers searching for early prognosis.
“We nonetheless wish to see extra folks coming ahead and hope our cycle problem will assist just do that.”
The duo set out on their marathon cycle on April 13, with a 57-mile journey from Scone as much as Blairgowrie and Kirkmichael after which again to Perth.
The ultimate leg - and the longest, simply in need of 60 miles - was accomplished on Might 1. That gave them time to relaxation their weary muscle tissues in between.
It took them to Errol, right down to Dundee and throughout the Tay Bridge, returning through Newburgh, Abernethy and Bridge of Earn after which on to Perth.
In between, they pedalled simply over 51 miles on the second day, visiting lodges in Methven, Muthill, Auchterarder, Dunning and Perth, whereas Day 3 took them to Coupar Angus, Alyth, Meigle and Perth, a distance of greater than 56 miles.
“In the case of biking, we're positively not Lycra children and are definitely no Chris Hoys. We get there after we get there,” laughed Davie (69).
“We prefer to take pleasure in ourselves, stopping for espresso and sandwiches alongside the best way.
“We have been extraordinarily lucky with the climate - and we had no accidents, punctures or mechanical issues.”
Each males took up biking to spice up their bodily well being after separate accidents made strolling extraordinarily troublesome for them.
Davie had already undergone a profitable coronary heart bypass operation in Edinburgh Royal in June, 2003. However he then suffered a fall greater than 4 years in the past which broken a nerve in his again.
Jim spent many months in a wheelchair recovering from two damaged legs and different accidents when he fell from a ladder whereas engaged on the previous toll home in Perth’s Glasgow Street in January, 2016. He has a pin in his ankle and has to put on a leg and ankle brace.
Strolling any distance turned a battle for the 2 buddies who've recognized one another since attending Perth Excessive College greater than 5 many years in the past.
In order that they turned to biking - and have by no means regarded again. They estimate they've every lined greater than 9000 miles over the previous 4 years or so.
“Biking has saved us going and has opened up elements of Perthshire - and Scotland - we by no means knew existed,” stated Davie, a former gasoline supply driver.
The pair have been overwhelmed with the big-hearted response from most people to their Fb attraction.
“The associated fee-of-living disaster has put severe calls for on folks’s disposable revenue. Cash is absolutely tight, in the mean time,” stated Jim.
“However we now have been humbled on the beneficiant response to our attraction - and by the spontaneous gestures from folks we now have met whereas out on the street.”
Davie defined: “We stopped for a break at Jim’s burger van on the lay-by close to Cargill on our first day. He not solely gave us complimentary cups of tea however added a tenner to our fund-raising whole.”
Later of their problem, they popped into McDonald’s in Perth’s Dunkeld Street and one of many assistants, a single dad or mum, handed over £5 after discovering the charity that may profit.
And when getting back from Dunning on Day 2, they heard a van driver repeatedly peeping his horn as they made their approach down Necessity Brae.
“We have been travelling single file so definitely weren’t holding anybody up,” recalled Davie.
“The motive force then pulled alongside and had a tenner in his hand which he gladly handed over when he stopped.”
Jim added: “I initially thought he was shaking his fist at us for delaying him however he had noticed the ‘Biking for Prostate Scotland’ lettering on the again of our tabards.
“All we all know is that he was Large Eddie from Ballinluig.
“Our thanks go to not solely him however all those that have supported us in any approach.
“We are able to guarantee everybody that each single penny raised from our on-line attraction will go direct to Prostate Scotland.”
To date, their JustGiving attraction stands at £1340 however anybody nonetheless taken with donating can achieve this on: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jim-thomas2
To this point, the native lodges the pair visited have contributed over £900, with a number of nonetheless to finalise their pledges.
That money will assist swell the £1 million nationwide attraction which at the moment stands at round £873,000.