John’s charity cycle dream comes to life

A GROUP of cyclists will ride from the Isle of Whithorn to a Dumfries church next week to raise funds for poverty and cardiac charities.

The ‘Brake the Cycle’ event was originally the idea of the late John Glover MBE, above, who passed away last year.

He had planned the 71 mile route as a charity fundraiser but was, sadly, unable to complete it himself.

So now his family and friends from St George’s Church in Dumfries, where John was an elder, are picking up where he left off and doing it in aid of CRY and Tearfund.

Next Saturday, September 20, they will set off from The Cradle of Christianity in the Isle of Whithorn, destination Dumfries later the same day.

Taking part will be John’s wife Marion, along with Rev Donald Campbell, Rodger and Lesley Hill, Andy McDougall, Erin Campbell, David Mowat, Dave McAdam, Tony and Lorna Read.

Some of them have done long distance cycles before, including Rev Campbell’s ‘Rev on a Bike’ in 2014, and the Tearfund Charity Cycle starting and ending at Drumlanrig Castle in 2017.

Marion Glover said: “I am proud to be part of the St George’s team participating in Brake the Cycle.

“It is wonderful to see John’s initial idea for this event coming to fruition, and I am grateful to everyone who is cycling or supporting us in different ways. This is not an easy task, but we are determined to do our best for Tearfund and CRY (David Hill Memorial Fund) .”

Rodger and Lesley Hill are also part of the team and will be representing the David Hill Memorial Fund, set up in memory of Rodger’s son David.

He said: “We are delighted to be involved and we are immensely grateful to St George’s Church for supporting David’s fund in this way. The money raised will go towards cardiac screening for young people (14-35) in Dumfries and Galloway. 71 miles in a single day for a group of less experienced cyclists will be a challenge, but we are confident that we can achieve this together.”

Organisations and members of the public can support the campaign by donating online via St George’s website at www.saint-georges.org.uk or directly to St George’s Church, 50 George Street, Dumfries, DG1 1EJ. More info and how to donate can be found at www.saint-georges.org.uk/news/brake-the-cycle-charity-cycle/