Annan is to be the start of a family’s Scottish Coast2Coast bicycle ride to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK.
The three-day 170-mile fundraiser, Ray of Light Ride, from April 21 to 23 aims to raise £5,000 with £2,851 gifted so far.
It is in memory of Eilidh Frances Richards, who died at just six weeks old, and will help the independent charity continue its vital work in providing free “home away from home” accommodation to families of seriously ill children being treated in hospitals across the UK.
There are currently 12 Ronald McDonald Houses situated in or near hospital grounds and more than 6,000 families stay in one each year.
Louise and Joe Richards had first-hand experience of the charity and want to give something back.
The couple, both aged 35 from Cupar, Fife, have based the challenge on the Scottish Coast2Coast cycle route which runs from Arran to South Queensferry.
Louise said: “We are extending the route to start in Annan and to finish in St Andrews and will also be stopping at the Ronald MacDonald house in Edinburgh en route.
“We cannot thank the people of Annan enough for all their support so far.
“The start from Annan will be on Friday, April 21, around 9am. The official start is at the water but we are arranging a bit of a send off beforehand from the Annandale Distillery, which they are kindly supporting.
“We hope to have some members of the Annan Town Band play the cyclist out from there.”
Louise won’t be cycling herself as the couple now have an eight-months-old baby girl, Wren, so she is on organising and fundraising duties, and will lead a support vehicle during the three-day challenge.
Her husband, Joe – who has not ridden a bike since he was a teenager doing a paper round – will take on the ride with several members of their family, including cousin, Will, who came up with the idea, and her aunt and uncle, Chris and Pete Clarke, both 69, and Louise’s dad, Mick Plunkett, who will turn 72 a week after the ride.
Louise said: “Ronald Macdonald House charities provided vital support and accommodation for me and my husband, Joe, in 2019 when our daughter, Eilidh, was very sick and needed to be transferred urgently to Kings Hospital in London at the age of two weeks old.
“We were extremely anxious about where we would be able to stay to remain close to our very sick baby as we were 400 miles from home.
“This is when we first heard about Ronald Macdonald House charities and were offered a room in a house with beautiful, homely facilities just a five minutes walk from the hospital.
“This was invaluable during this traumatic time as it provided a refuge and some sense of normality in an otherwise chaotic and fraught situation.
“It also allowed us to share a space with other families going through similar ordeals, and the wonderful caring staff in the house provided much needed support, conversation, and laughter.”
They would welcome online donations at their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rayoflightride and are hoping for a “good send off” from Annan residents on the morning of April 21.
