Teenager Gillies Grant cycles more than 300 miles to raise money for Alzheimer's Society charity
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A LOCAL teenager has pedalled his way past his funding target for a charity close to his heart.
Forres Academy student, Gillies Grant (14), aimed to cycle 250 miles in a month to raise £250 for Alzheimer's Society but kept going and completed 302 miles over 30 days, earning the charity £420 so far.
He said: "Dementia affects lots of families - my great granny has had it for 10 years now and is looked after by the staff at Cathay Care Home. I've noticed how her dementia has affected our family so I’m happy that the money I raised will hopefully help other families in the future."
Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause a long-term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember. It is severe enough to affect daily functioning.
Alzheimer's Society (including Alzheimer Scotland) is a care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers. The society relies on voluntary donations from the public through fundraising and other activities.
Gillies set up a JustGiving page before setting off on his 10-miles-a-day challenge after school and at the weekends during September.
He said: "I did a mixture of road and mountain biking every day for 30 days in Sanquhar woods, Altyre estate and lots of different routes on the roads from Forres. My longest cycle was 38 miles going from Forres through Dallas to Elgin and returning via Roseisle.
"I like cycling because it’s relaxing, you can see different parts of the area and I feel good when I’ve been out."
Gillies has been a member of Forres Cycling Club (FCC) for seven years and usually takes part in the Tuesday Night (time trial) League at Waterford circuit during the summer.
He said: "For the past couple of years we've also been doing inside turbo training sessions in the club house on Cummings street. This year, because of lockdown, I’ve done many more informal cycles, by myself, with my dad or with my granda, who is also a long standing FCC member."
