Alasdair saddles up for poignant epic
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A FATHER inspired by the plucky battle waged by a friend’s baby boy this week set out on an epic solo cycle in his memory.
A familiar figure at Victoria Park, Alasdair Fraser has covered Ross County FC for the Journal for many years, picking up a clutch of awards along the way for his insightful sports reporting.
The 41-year-old dad-of-two is making his way between two great cycling cities, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
He’s aiming to raise as much as he can for the charity’s work in memory of friend Mark Palmer’s baby son, Ruaridh.
Said Alasdair: “Ruaridh was a wee battler, born prematurely on 30th May 30 last year, who overcame huge odds to touch his mummy and daddy’s lives before losing his last fight on 1st July.
“Without the sad events of last summer, I would never have known about the amazing work being supported by the CFT. CFT-funded research is close to developing a form of ‘gene therapy’ that would transform the lives and ease the daily suffering of many thousands with the so far incurable condition.”
While huge strides are being taken, they’re under threat from a lack of finance.
Alasdair, who has delighted in Ross County’s fairy-tale season, has already been backed by personal donations from club manager Derek Adams and chairman Roy MacGregor amongst others.
Admitting he’ll be well outside his comfort zone as he pedals the 500-plus miles between the two cities, he’s determined to cover the distance in a week.
He clocked up 1,500 miles training for the epic since February and has already hit the £1,750 mark in pledges. His friend Mark has himself raised in excess of £20,000 for the charity since last July.
Admitting his “relaxed attitude to geography in school” means he may have drastically underestimated the distance he needs to cover, Alasdair has already been on a recce mission to pick up local maps. “I am worried that I might end up in Poland,” he said.
With the support of his family, wife Dawn and daughters Ella (6) and Rose (3), Alasdair chose the footballing close season as the ideal window of opportunity to make tracks.
It’s been a busy and often exhilarating season for the Inverness-based freelance — with Ross County’s charge to the SPL very much the focal point. He said: “Getting to the Scottish Cup Final took some beating but it’s fair to say last season was the most enjoyable in covering the club for 16 years. I’m thrilled for them, it’s a great club to deal with.”
• You can sponsor Alasdair’s ride for the CFT here.
