Team Kingdom saddle up to raise thousands for Alzheimer Scotland

Torrential rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Kingdom Housing Association’s staff as they braved the weather last Friday to raise £2705 for Alzheimer Scotland, the Association’s chosen charity, during its 40th anniversary year.

Team Kingdom saddle up to raise thousands for Alzheimer Scotland

Gary Haldane (seated) with Kingdom Housing Association staff

Gary Haldane, Kingdom’s head of digital, set off at midnight on a route that would take him around all of Kingdom’s developments in East Central Scotland, a distance of 181 miles.

Starting in Kinghorn and finishing 18 hours later at Fife Cycle Park in Lochgelly, only a few hundred yards from the site of the last lodging house in Fife, Templar House, the closure of which led to the creation of the Association in 1979, Gary joined his colleagues at the park who were taking part in their own cycling challenges.

Team Kingdom saddle up to raise thousands for Alzheimer Scotland

The Cycle Team at Fife Cycle Park (from left) Back: Judy Murphy, Abbie Brockie, Carly Melrose, Gemma Sinclair, Lee-Anne Sloane, Darren Clarke. Front: Alana Anderson, Kerri Gell

Gary’s solo cycling challenge passed through Kinghorn, Kincardine, Falkirk, Stirling, Dunblane, Crieff, Pitcairngreen, Stanley, Blairgowrie/Rattray, Cupar Angus, Dundee, Leuchars, St Andrews, Crail, Lower Largo, Buckhaven, Kirkcaldy, Auchtertool and Lochgelly.

After being cheered across the finishing line, exhausted but elated, Gary said: “As part of Kingdom Housing Association’s 40th anniversary I wanted to do something that not only showcased the geographical spread of our properties, but which encouraged my colleagues to get some fresh air and take on a challenge that would be good fun and good for them too! I love cycling and hope the cycling bug has bitten some of my fellow fundraisers.”

Team Kingdom saddle up to raise thousands for Alzheimer Scotland

The fundraising cycle route

fundraiseks, Kingdom Group chief executive, said: “Taking on a cycling challenge like this is no mean feat, especially given the terrible weather conditions. I’m hugely proud of Gary and all of the staff who took part in these incredible fundraising challenges and offer my sincerest congratulations. It’s fitting that the solo challenge ride should end so close to where Kingdom Housing Association started 40 years ago and humbling that we’ve been able to raise so much money for Kingdom’s chosen charity, Alzheimer Scotland.”

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