Hello. Some old blokes (Graeme Brightmore, Antony Boot, Paul Gawthorpe, Richard Cross, Dominic Clay, Chris Stone, Andy Smith, Andy Matthews, Steven Lodge) are doing a non-stop 160 mile bike ride from Airdrieonians F.C (Excelsior Stadium) to Sunderland F.C. (Stadium of Light) on Friday 28th/Saturday 29th April. Why?

In September 2016, a very close friend of ours, Bruce Ford, 49, had an accident and broke his neck. He's now paralysed from the waist down and he will never walk again. We want to raise as much money as we can to help Bruce with his rehab and to adapt his home ready for when he leaves hospital (April 2017).  We would also like to donate to the QE Spinal Unit in Glasgow.

Bruce comes from South Shields and is a lifelong Sunderland fan. He now lives in Airdrie, Scotland, and so also has a keen interest in Airdrie FC. He also has close ties with a few Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United fans as he spent many years living and working in Sheffield during the 1990s. 

A few of those Sheffield mates have put their (old) heads together to think of ways to help Bruce raise the money he needs. The conclusion was: "Let's do a non-stop overnight bike ride from Airdrie to Sunderland. How hard can that be?"

Well, most of the guys are well into their forties and have not been on a bike since school. So it might be quite hard! Still, we are going to do whatever it takes to do this. It's only 160 miles ...(gulp).

Some of Bruce's friends in Scotland & the North East will also be doing the ride. Rumour has it they are even older and fatter than the Sheffield lads! Bring it on! In fact anyone is welcome to join us. If that's you, please contact paulgawthorpe@hotmail.com.

This is such a worthy cause. Bruce, despite the accident, remains positive and he has not lost his sense of humour which is a good thing when you support Sunderland!

Any donation, however small, will help in our quest to raise as much as we can for our great friend. Thanks!