Boys just want to have fun on epic ride
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TWO friends are bracing themselves for lots of curious glances on a charity cycle from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
Elijah Forsyth and Isaac Lawton, who have been friends since school days in Ullapool, recently came up with the idea for what they have dubbed the "Two Men Lacey Drag Racey", to raise funds for research into multiple sclerosis.
Planning to make the trip decked out in a selection of dresses and frilly blouses they wanted to bring a bit of fun to what they know will be a serious challenge after both experiencing their own problems on a recent outing.
Mr Forsyth, who is a product design student at Dundee University, said: "On a recent training run from Dundee to Ullapool on our old bikes, we were fraught with bad weather and mechanical failure.
"My seat bolt sheared, and I ended up on my back in a puddle."
Sharing his own tale of woe Mr Lawton, who is hoping to be accepted on a welding course in Invergordon this autumn, added: "On reaching Inverness the journey was thwarted due to my rear, gear cassette spectacularly disintegrating.
"It was a valuable lesson, though, that it’s not just a case of getting on a bike and pedalling."
The pair, who are due to set off tomorrow, plan to make the gruelling journey without the aid of a support vehicle, carrying everything they need on their own backs and buying new outfits as they go.
Mr Forsyth added: "There is of course a serious side to this, in that we intend to raise as much money as possible for multiple sclerosis research.
"It is a cruel condition that, for some reason, is particularly prevalent in the Highlands – we both know people that are affected.
"Recent announcements about stem cell treatments are promising, but potential breakthroughs like this would not have been developed without charitable funding."
Donations big or small can be made online at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/eliforsyth
