Dumbarton grandad sets off on charity cycle

Jul 10 2009 by Lorraine Waddell, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A COURAGEOUS Dumbarton grandad is setting off on Wednesday on a charity cycle – having already smashed his fundraising target.

Edward Gray, 49, will leave from the Falkirk Wheel, cycling all the way back to his home town in a bid to raise a load of cash for the intensive care unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

He had hoped to raise £1000 and already reached that before he even set off.

The unit helped care for his little grandson, Kian Edward, who was born prematurely last October.

And the four hour trip will be a poignant one for the Westcliff man as it would have been the birthday of his son, also called Edward, who died in 2001, aged 20, due to a mystery illness.

Edward said: “It’s gone from a wee thing to something quite big. People have been taking sponsor sheets for me and I’ve had tins in at different shops raising money for me.

“I want to thank all of the people who have helped me so far.”

We reported last week how Edward had been knocked off his bike as he trained for the cycle and the driver had left him to drag himself back up to his feet.

But the incident has not dampened his spirits.

Edward and cycle partner Derek Duffy will be driven from Dumbarton to Falkirk by friends and family and will then cycle back.

It is expected that the trip will take about four hours to complete.