East Lothian worker's 'ridiculous idea' to cycle 77 miles for morning meeting
An East Lothian charity worker had the 'ridiculous idea' to cycle over 77 miles to get to his office in Glasgow's city centre.
Mark Camburn, 42, decided to dust down his wheels for Cycle to Work Day - the only issue being he lives in Drem. On the day of his journey, he set off at 3am.
He was joined by his colleagues from the humanitarian charity the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. Mark, and his work friends, made it to Glasgow just in time for their first meeting.
Mark said: 'The cycle was a ridiculous idea – and a huge challenge for me. The adrenaline was pumping at 3am, with the excitement of what was to come. But the reality really sunk in as the sun came up, and I realised how far we had to go. My eyes were as heavy as my legs!'
Mark's route took him from Drem, along the coastal road to Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Falkirk, Kilsyth, Kirkintilloch, through Bishopbriggs and into Glasgow. In 2012 Mark bought a bike through the 'Cycle to Work' scheme, but never managed to do the trip before now.
Mark added: 'It's only taken me 13 years but I got there! For me, getting to the office in time to start a full day's work was key – that was the whole point of the cycle. And honestly, despite a few yawns, I managed to get quite a bit done and yes I did have a shower! I cheated a wee bit – I did get the train home.
(Image: Supplied)
'At Kirkintilloch, a group of fellow SCIAF staff met us to take us over the finish line – and our lovely chief executive brought some breakfast to spur us on. That gesture made all the difference, and seeing the Glasgow skyline appear as we completed those final few miles down the canal was such a huge relief.
"While I was cycling, I was thinking about the challenges families face in the communities SCIAF works. In places like Malawi and Ethiopia, women and girls spend hours every single day walking miles and miles just to collect water. In Gaza and Ukraine, where SCIAF are providing emergency relief, the challenges they face every day are incomprehensible. It really put things into perspective for me.
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"The target for the fundraiser was £1000, and I'm delighted we smashed this. The money will go towards SCIAF's current appeal, which focuses on the work we do with people with disabilities – helping them access the care they need, and the tools and training they need to thrive.
"Thank you to everyone who sponsored us – it was the encouragement I needed to keep the pedals turning! We still need more donations to our current appeal, however, so we can reach as many people as possible. The need is so high, so anything you can do to help will make a big difference."
You can find out more about SCIAF's appeal here.
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