A group of football fans are going the extra mile to raise money for a Moray youngster who needs to go to America for pioneering cancer treatment.
Gail Paterson, from Forres, has launched a campaign to amass £100,000 by June so that daughter Eileidh can receive medication unavailable in the UK.
Eileidh’s current treatment programme will end later this month, but her condition – high risk neuroblastoma – carries an 80% chance of relapse and it is believed drugs available stateside could reduce that.
Efforts across the north-east have helped the collection approach the halfway stage and, moved by the appeal, four football enthusiasts from across Scotland have decided to get on their bikes for a mammoth challenge.
The keen cyclists – Steve Taylor from Stewarton, Paul Muldoon from Glasgow, Robert Campbell from Spean Bridge and Kevan Lawler from Wishaw – will cycle from Forres to Inverness this morning, before undertaking a gruelling trek between the capital of the Highlands and Celtic Park in Glasgow.
The cyclists will be joined on the 160-mile journey by a team of marchers, all raising funds for Eileidh’s campaign, and they hope to arrive at their destination on Monday afternoon.
Mr Taylor organises a cycle challenge every year, and after meeting Eileidh last Christmas at a Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance (NCCA) event, decided to dedicate this year’s funds to her appeal.
He said: “With Eileidh’s campaign so desperate for funds, it makes sense this year to do the march and cycle events for her.
“The treatment in America is expensive, but it’s her best hope of survival and we need to do all we can to help.
“I think altogether we should be able to raise a few more thousand for the campaign.”
Eileidh and her mum will wave the cyclists off from their starting point at the Mosset Park ground today at 10.30am, and will be joined by Forres Mechanics FC players Scott Moore and Simon Allan.
This afternoon Ms Paterson will address the crowd at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC’s home tie against Dundee United, before a collection bucket is passed among fans.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/EileidhsJourney