Peterhead man Paul Jennings is set to take on a charity effort with a Roman twist to raise money for Dial-a-Community Bus
Each year, the 52-year-old, who is a volunteer driver for the north-east social enterprise, takes on a cycle challenge, choosing a different charity to raise funds for each time. Having started volunteering with the dial-a-bus last November, he explained why the choice this time around was an easy one.
He said: “Since I started driving the bus last year, I have seen the huge difference it makes to people’s lives.
“Many of our clients live in isolated rural areas, and have no way of getting to the doctor or even to the shops. Getting picked up from their homes and taken to a nearby town gives them back their independence and allows them to continue to live in their own homes.”
Mr Jenningsm, from Peterhead, intends to take on the Hadrian cycleway this year, a 174mile effort that will see him bike from coast to coast across the length of the Roman Hadrian’s Wall in northern England.
He revealed: “Hadrian’s cycleway is going to be one of the toughest routes I have cycled so far, as some of the hills are very steep indeed.
“It will take me five days to complete, but I’m looking forward to it.”
His effort starts on September 14, and accepting donations on Mr Jennings’ behalf are Shopmobility Peterhead, Timpsons in Peterhead, or the Dial-a-Community Bus office in Maud.
Founded in 2000, the charity offers eight services locally, including a door-to-door shopping provision, patient support, and evening youth transport.
Describing the volunteer work as self-rewarding, Mr Jennings said he would drive the bus full-time if he could.
“It’s fantastic. If I could do it full-time, I would. It’s very self-rewarding, really, when you get to know some of the people,” he commented.