A lifelong football fan from Peterhead has raised £20,000 in memory of his friends’ stillborn child.
Aberdeen supporter Martin Bagshaw cycled more than 600 miles from his north-east home to the Dons’ Pittodrie Stadium – by way of 15 Scottish grounds.
The 29-year-old set out to raise money for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, after his friends Mark and Lisa’s Hay’s Archie was stillborn on Boxing Day.
Now the final donations from various charity auctions and raffles which followed Mr Bagshaw’s mammoth ride have been counted and a cheque for £20,901.50 will be presented to the organisation.
Mr Bagshaw said: “Initially all I wanted to do was help Mark and Lisa through their sad time, but this has grown and become so much more.
“The money we have raised is enough for Sands to support 697 families in their times of need.”
Mr Bagshaw said that – other than marrying his “best friend” Lyndsey – the charity ride was the “greatest achievement” of his life.
He added: “Thank you to Mark and Lisa Hay for letting me do this in Archie’s memory – it’s been an honour. This is for Archie.”
The football world had thrown its support behind the fundraiser.
During his epic ride, Mr Bagshaw rode laps of honour at several stadiums, and items donated for auction included signed strips from Aberdeen, Hearts, Hamilton, Dundee United, Motherwell and Celtic.
Rangers gave Mr Bagshaw a signed photo of striker Kenny Miller and Partick Thistle provided a signed ball for auction.