Highland family gives thanks for help for help buying special bike 'which has changed lives'
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A KIRKHILL musician who released a single to raise funds to buy a special bike for his disabled brother-in-law has taken delivery of the new machine.
Mark Forbes managed to raise £7000 through a combination of CD sales and an online appeal, allowing him to order the purpose-built electric duet bike.
His brother-in-law, James Murray, has Angelman Syndrome which means he is unable to ride a bike by himself.
The new vehicle means he can still enjoy trips out, being carried in the front seat while someone pedals behind him.
Mr Forbes said: “As a family we cannot believe all the support we have received in our fundraising challenge. People have been so generous in such a difficult climate.
“We ordered the bike as soon as we hit our target and it was meant to be about four weeks till delivery, but due to the way things are with Covid and Brexit, it was almost lost in transit. Much to our delight and relief the bike eventually arrived in two large boxes.”
An injury that left him with broken ribs meant it was a week after delivery before he could put the new bike together, with wife Wendi and a representative from the company London Recumbents – working via Zoom – helping with the construction.
Since then there have been a few test runs, with the whole family having a go to make sure they are familiar with the process when they are called on for cycling duties.
Mr Forbes said: “This bike has changed all our lives. It has given us, as a family, many great things in this lockdown. It has given us an activity for James, a chance for him to socialise safely.
“Fundraising also gave us goals, excitement and a sense of awe at the generosity of our community.”
He also thanked staff at the Corbett Centre in Merkinch who had loaned them a bike for James while they were still fundraising for their own.
