Grove Academy Cycling Team Awarded Dundee Cyclathon Fundraising Cup 2016

Congratulations to the pupils from Grove Academy who last night were awarded the Fundraising Cup for the most money raised by a team who entered the Dundee Cyclathon. 

Back in September, this young team of cyclists completed a circuit of the 26 mile Green Circular route starting and finishing in Camperdown Park. Last night they were presented with the Fundrasing Cup by Lord Provost Bob Duncan at a Civic Reception for the cyclists/fundraisers and the organisers of the Cyclathon, Rotary Club of Claverhouse.

This is not the first occasion that a team of cyclists from Grove Academy, with staff support, have won this fundraising award. 

Grove Academy Team Raise £330 for Kenyan School Project Through Dundee Cyclathon 2013

On Wednesday evening, the Grove Academy Cyclathon team had their fundraising efforts recognised at the Civic Reception in the City Council's Chambers in Dundee.

Grove's young team rode the miles, roads and pathways of the Dundee Green Circular on Sunday 15 September 2013. 

Battling against the wind and rain they completed the ride and raised over three hundred pounds for their good cause, a project connected with Grove Academy's exchange partner school in Kenya. 

Grove's team are waiting to hear whether they won the best fundraisers in the schools' category. They are apparently up against teams from Menzieshill High School and The High School of Dundee. Go Grove!

Special thanks go to Claverhouse Rotary Club for once again organizing a successful event which enabled so many adults and young people to raise thousands of pounds for the Rotary nominated charity, 'Cash for Kids' and the participants' chosen good causes. 

We Completed the Cyclathon Despite the Wind and Rain

Despite the rainy and windy weather conditions, all four of the Cleghorm Crusaders completed our sponsored ride round the Dundee Green Circular yesterday.

In shot at the finish is David Zwirlein (yellow jacket) and me. The banana and bottle of water I am holding, as well as my medal, had just been issued by helpers from Claverhouse Rotary Club. And before you ask we didn't need the services of the ambulance which you can see in the background.

The other team members, Charles Aitkenhead and Karen Wollstencroft, were not far behind David and me. They had been delayed after Karen's bike picked up a puncture.

To all our sponsors, we send a big thank you. If you haven't yet donated it's not too late to pledge some support for our good cause, the Cleghorn Charitable Trust (Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC008372). The Trust provides support to tenants in Dundee who are living on some of the lowest incomes in the city and are setting up their first home. Cleghorn helps with items such as essential floor covering for which grants are not available.

Donate to Cleghorn Charitable Trust and help make a house a home.

 

Riding the Dundee Cyclathon Today Whatever the Weather

Later today, I will be taking part in the Dundee Cyclathon 2013 organised by Claverhouse Rotary Club. The Cyclathon follows the 26 miles of the Green Circular route round the city starting and finishing at Camperdown Park. 

The weather forecast is not that great but, as I am committed to fundraising for a good cause, I shall be riding round whatever the weather.

This year I shall be riding with Charles Aitkenhead, Karen Wolstencroft and David Zwirlein as part of the Cleghorn Crusaders team and we are fundraising for the Cleghorn Charitable Trust  a Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC008372

Cleghorn Charitable Trust provides support to tenants in Dundee who are living on some of the lowest incomes in the city and are setting up their first home. This trust help with items such as essential floor covering for which grants are not available. 

Please donate and help make a house a home!

Potential of Cycling Tourism in Dundee Needs to be Added to Tourism Action Plan

Earlier this week Transform Scotland published their report, The Value of Cycle Tourism: Opportunities for the Scottish Economy.

The report makes a good case for promoting cycling for tourists; which can lead to positive benefits for employment in hospitality related services. I think there are some important messages for the City.

The authors' calculation of the economic impact of cyclo tourism is based on a count of the number of participants attracted to annual cycling events held throughout Scotland. I notice, however, that Claverhouse Rotary Club's Cyclathon around the Dundee Green Circular in early September was not included.

Maybe this is because the event was instigated and promoted as a local charity fundraising event. It's a great day out and one that could well draw in visitors from further afield. Perhaps, with the agreement of Claverhouse Rotary, their Cyclathon could be included in Dundee's annual programme of events which we actively publicise to tourists?

While we have an excellent map of the Dundee Green Circular to issue to visitors, I also wondered where the tourists, who turned up without their own bikes, might hire a bike in Dundee? Perhaps there are places, but none spring to mind. Wouldn't it be good to be able to offer future visitors to the VandA Dundee the opportunity to continue their stay in the city by hiring a bike and cycling down the enhanced largely off-road cycle route to Broughty Ferry? I know that not everyone would want to cycle along the waterfront but some folk would. I surely can't be the only person that wants something completely different after a few hours in a museum or gallery?

I have checked Dundee's first Tourism Action Plan, which was launched last month, and unfortunately it does not mention cycling once. I have written to Mike Galloway, Director of City Development to suggest that this report, from Transform Scotland, is referred to the staff and Consultative Group taking forward the Tourism Action Plan. I think there are some important opportunities and currently it would appear that Dundee is missing a trick.

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.

Entering Dundee Cyclathon Sunday 9 September 2012

Ready to go in the 2011 Cyclathon

Sunday 9 September is the 2012 Dundee Cyclathon organised by Claverhouse Rotary Club with cyclists raising money for the Caring for Kids charity or their own nominated charity.
I shall be joining hundreds of cyclists who will pedalling around the 26 miles of the Dundee Green Circular route with the start and finish at Camperdown Park. 

This year I will be riding with my two daughters Naomi and Imogen and we will be making up a team entry.

Our team are raising sponsorship cash for Tushinde Childrens' Trust. If you would like to sponsor us, we have a fund raising page on Just Giving.

If you want to join in the cycling fun and raise some cash for good causes there is still time to enter the Cyclathon. More details of how to enter.

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.