Charity cyclists from Stornoway Airport are to don their finest lycra again this year as they navigate from one island terminal to another, a distance spanning approximately 100 miles, in memory of one of their colleagues.
The team of between 12 and 14 are undertaking the challenge, dubbed Airport2Airport, in memory of Calum A MacLeod who died at the beginning of the year.
The dedicated cyclists will begin their challenge at Benbecula Airport on Uist, battling their way north to catch the Berneray to Leverburgh ferry before heading onwards towards their home base on Lewis.
Previously the airport workers, compromising of firefighters, air traffic controllers and workers from the helicopter department, took on their Lighthouse2Lighthouse challenge from Eilean Glas on Scalpay to the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse in aid of cancer charities, where £6,253 was raised – over four times their initial target.
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This year funds generated will be distributed between the Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI) again, and the British Heart Foundation in honour of their former colleague.
Donald MacMillan, organiser of the event said: “All of us were keen to build on last year’s effort so we are upping the ante and extending from 85 miles to 100 so it is already looking like it will be that wee bit harder.
“By having to catch the ferry it makes it a wee bit harder again because we don’t know what the weather will do. The wind could prove to be a bit of a problem but we will deal with that if we need to.
“We are doing this in memory of Calum who had planned on joining us on this cycle. He had even bought himself a bike before passing away at the start of the year.
“If we get anywhere near last year’s total that would be unbelievable. We never expected to raise so much but if we can beat it again this year that would be incredible.
“The support we were shown last year was great and we hope that that continues to aid two fantastic charities.”
The challenge is anticipated to take around eight hours of peddling time in total from beginning to end, taking in three separate islands.
Mr MacMillan added: “Quite a few of the guys who took on the challenge last year have really caught the cycling bug and we have kept the training going throughout the winter.”
The team have set up a JustGiving page to generate donations and aid their charity peddle.