The family of a Moray teenager who was killed while cycling have set a huge fundraising target to mark what would have been his 21st birthday.
Keiran McKandie, from Miltonduff, died in March 2016 after being hit by a car while on his bike near his home on the outskirts of Elgin.
Since then his parents Gordon and Sandra have devoted themselves to raising money to fund life-saving defibrillators across the north-east – after it took an ambulance half-an-hour to reach their son.
Now Mr and Mrs McKandie hope to raise £21,000 by June next year, which is when Keiran would have turned 21, to support the Keiran’s Legacy charity they have established.
Mrs McKandie said: “It is important for us to remember our son and continue his legacy. Keiran had to wait half-an-hour for an ambulance to reach him with the right equipment, which was simply too long.
“Every year 60,000 people suffer a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and only one out of 10 of these people survive. With greater access to community defibrillators this can be prevented.”
Since its formation, Keiran’s Legacy has also provided classes for how to use defibrillators to pupils and have provided 16 pieces of the equipment for emergency services, which have been used to provide aid to about 50 people.
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The first of the fundraisers to help the family reach their £21,000 target will be held on Friday next week at the newly opened Moray Sports Centre in Elgin.
Springfield Properties is hosting a charity spinathon which will involve 45-minute fitness classes being run from 1pm to 7pm, with participants donating £10 to enter.
Diane Kemp, the firm’s senior human resources advisor, said: “Sandra and Gordon have already saved lives thanks to their unwavering dedication to raise money for defibrillators through Keiran’s Legacy.
“As a business established in the north, our community roots run deep and Springfield staff have been hosting office dress-down days and bake sales to fundraise for Keiran’s Legacy since the start of the year.
“We are proud to continue our support of the charity by hosting the spinathon and kick off a year of fundraising to celebrate Keiran’s life and continue his legacy.”
Places can be secured at the spinathon by searching for Keiran’s Legacy online at www.eventbrite.co.uk
