"And there goes Doddie Weir, on the charge like a mad giraffe" has got be one of my favourite Bill McLaren quotes of all time, you can't help but grin when you think of it. 

As most rugby followers will know the former Scotland second row has been diagnosed with MND and has set up the Doddie Weir Foundation to help raise funds for research into a cure, while also providing support for families living with MND and i'd like to do my bit to help!

So on April 29th 2018 I'm off to ride the 110km Loch Ness Etape in support of the Doddie Weir Foundation. It's a stunning route with hills, lots of hills, lots of big hills and without being too unkind i'm not built for hills - well, going up them anyway, coming down is enough to make your arse twitch like a rabbits nose but it's amazing fun. So just after the half way mark comes the King of the Mountain (KOM) stage, a solid 5 miles climb out of Fort Augustus with gradients reaching 15%+ where time keepers record your time for the KOM jersey which I have no intention of winning. I'll moan, curse, swear, change down to the lowest gear possible wishing there were more and settle into an hour of pure climbing torture determined not to get off and push in the knowledge that my legs are burning and my backside aching for a very worthy cause.

Thanks for your support