Abertay Rotary Club Annual Plant Sale Today Queen Street Car Park Saturday 25 May 2013

Abertay Rotary Club are holding their annual Plant Sale today.

Plant Sale TODAY
10:00 - 16:00
Queen Street Car Park
Saturday 25 May 2013 

Bag some bargain plants for your garden and at the same time support our local Rotary Club's funding raising for good causes.

Dundee Cyclathon Success 2012

Registration in Camperdown Park

Yesterday I took part in the Dundee Cyclathon organised by Claverhouse Rotary Club. The cyclathon uses the Dundee Green Circular route with a start and finish in Camperdown Park. The event encourages fund raising for the Caring for Kids charity or for the self-nominated charity of an individual or teams of entrants. The Cyclathon is not a race and includes cyclists of varying ages and abilities.

This year I registered a team, 'Bidwell Bikers' raising money for Tushinde Children's Trust that supports the education and nutrition of children living in the sprawling Mathare slums in Nairobi.  I had signed up my two daughters to cycle and attract sponsorship with me. My older daughter badly sprained her ankle and so had to withdraw from the event. Her place was taken by a neighbour.

As well as enjoying a pleasant bike ride round the circuit and collecting our medals at the end, we have already raised over £250 and there's more to come in from folk who have committed to support us and from whom we now need to collect the cash.

As a Councillor, it was also interesting for me to do the rounds because some improvements to the Green Circular route have been proposed in a report that is being considered by the Environment Committee later today. As I have cycled round the route the day before the meeting, I think that will give what I have to say some additional credibility.

One early observation is that the frequency and positioning of Green Circular way markers is inadequate and that does need to improve. 

Another observation, is that our Environment Department staff have worked really hard to bring the Green Circular route up to scratch for this event and the general public at other times.

A good day out on two wheels.

Green Circular Ride Raises Over £390 for Charity

On Sunday 11 September, I enjoyed pedaling round the 26 miles of the Dundee Cyclathon in the company of hundreds of other cyclists. The route was mainly off road following the Dundee Green Circular.

The Abertay Rotary Club is to be congratulated on a well organised, safe and fun event. There were marshals at all the key junctions and refreshment stations every few miles. 

With the generous help from constituents, friends, family, and colleagues, I raised £393.50 in sponsorship. I was fundraising for Tushinde Children's Trust, a Scottish based charity that supports projects in Nairobi Kenya that provide education and nutrition for children living in in a highly populated sprawling slum called Mathare. When some final donations are recorded, I am hoping my target of £400 will be exceeded. It's not too late to donate via my fundraising page 

Much of my time as a Councillor is focusing on the education of our children in Dundee. I have found it humbling to be involved with a charity that focuses on meeting the needs of children in Mathare for whom access to school and one square meal a day cannot be taken for granted.

Read/download Dundee Green Circular Route Map East

Read/download Dundee Green Circular Route Map West

Paper copies of the map are available free from Libraries and Cycle Shops.