Forres boy (8) cycling to raise money for Highland Wildlife Park
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A FORRES boy has been inspired to cycle more than 150 miles to raise funds to "help feed the tigers" at Highland Wildlife Park.
Anderson's Primary School pupil Kristian Ross (8) will cycle a total of 157 miles, the distance from his front door on Castle Hill Road to Edinburgh Zoo, to raise funds for the Cairngorms-based wildlife park.
Mum Siobhan Ross, who works as a carer, will cycle with him for the duration, with all trips taking place locally.
She said: "Kristian saw on the news that all wildlife parks were struggling for money and asked about the park here.
"We go to the park quite often – about two or three times a year – and have been going since he was about two. He loves it there.
"I told him they have not got as much money as usual and he said he wanted to do something, he said, to help feed the tigers."
Kristian and Siobhan began cycling the 157 miles on June 15 and hope to complete the mileage by July 15.
The original target was to raise £100 but the total raised passed that mark within a matter of days. At present, £139 has been raised.
Siobhan added: "The original idea was to cycle the equivalent distance of a trip to Highland Wildlife Park, which is 45 miles, but Kristian said that wasn't far enough.
"So we decided to travel the distance it takes to get to Edinburgh Zoo, which is run by the same charity.
"We aimed to raise £100 but we passed that after a few days and we are not sure if we should set a new target.
"Kristian cycles a lot, nearly every day and everywhere he can. I bought a bike two weeks ago for myself and I'm going with him for all of it.
"Normally he would be doing his cycling proficiency so it is doubling up. I'm trying to get him out on the roads while they are a bit quieter and teach him to be on the road safely.
"So far we have been up to the Enterprise Park, past Sanquhar Pond, up Dava Way. We are discovering lots of new places."
After shutting down during lockdown, Highland Wildlife Park, which is run by charity Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, is due to re-open on June 29.
To help Kristian raise money for Highland Wildlife Park, you can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cycletothezoo.
