A lifelong football fan from Peterhead is on course to cycle to Pittodrie the long way round – in memory of his friend’s stillborn child.
Dons fan Martin Bagshaw is training to cycle more than 600 miles from his north-east home to the stadium via all 12 Scottish Premiership football grounds.
The 29-year-old was inspired to undertake his mammoth ride after his friend’s baby Archie was stillborn on Boxing Day.
Four months on and Mr Bagshaw has dropped three stone in weight and has not touched a drop of alcohol since Hogmanay.
As he hits the back roads of Buchan to train, the world of Scottish football has rallied around baby Archie’s story. Ross County have agreed to open the gates of their Victoria Park ground for Mr Bagshaw to ride a lap of honour.
Aberdeen, Hearts, Hamilton, Dundee United, Motherwell and Celtic have donated signed strips, Rangers have given Mr Bagshaw a signed photo of striker Kenny Miller and Patrick Thistle have provided a signed ball for auction.
Most recently Mr Bagshaw joined Dons’ goalkeepers Scott Brown and Jamie Langfield at Pittordire to collect signed jerseys and gloves.
In total, nearly £8,000 has been raised for stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands with a £10,000 target to hit before the 11-day journey begins in the summer.
Last night Mr Bagshaw said: “This amount is enough to help Sands support 256 different families.
“I initially just wanted to do something to help my friends through what happened. To realise that the money raised in doing this cycle can support so many other families going through the same thing is truly remarkable and shows how worthwhile doing the cycle is.”
Archie’s mum Lisa Hay added: “The support and donations has been overwhelming and all of us are super proud of what Martin has done in Archie’s honour.
“The thought of helping more families going through the same tragedy as us has helped us in a way.”
Mr Bagshaw is still looking for sponsorship and says that companies are able to back the cause will have their logo displayed on his support car, which is being provided by John Clark Motor Group.