Brandon’s cyclists hope to raise a bundle

Jun 30 2012 by Clair Fullarton, Paisley Daily Express

A TEAM of Paisley hospital workers are using pedal power to raise cash for a little boy with an incurable disease.

And the plucky cyclists have been given the backing of former Miss Scotland Jennifer Reoch before setting off on a marathon trek.

Led by Dr Chris Govender, whose little boy Brandon suffers with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and is the inspiration behind the trip, will lead the team from the Mull of Galloway to John OGroats.

This 450-mile trek will kick off on Friday, July 6, and is expected to take the four-man team eight gruelling days to complete.

Those joining Chris are David Cooke and Lenny Anderson who are all staff at Dykebar Hospital, in Paisley, and Brandons teenage cousin, Aaron Bayne.

Chris said: We will be accommodated by local fire stations en-route and our nightly stops include Girvan, Kilmarnock, Arrochar, Killin, Newtonmore, Inverness and Helmsdale, reaching John O Groats on Friday, July 13.

Anybody interested in joining us for any part of our trip is most welcome!

We have also received sponsored supplies of an abundance of food and energy drinks from stores and Arnold Clark has very generously sponsored us with a transit van as our support vehicle for the duration of our trip.

All this effort is inspired by three-year-old cutie Brandon, who was diagnosed with DMD in November 2011.

The condition is a severe, genetic, life-limiting and incurable muscle disease, which is characterised by progressive muscle damage, weakness and disability.

Chris added: We have been fundraising since the start of the year and so far the fund has reached around £6,500.

We are hoping to reach £10,000 by the end of the year.

Money that is generated from little Brandons fund will be allocated to research projects, to help lab work and clinical trials on patients to find an effective treatment in slowing down this dreadful disease an improving the quality of life of sufferers and one day finding a cure.

Brandons Fund will also be also be responsible for educating and increasing awareness about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Scotland, which is a relatively unknown yet not an uncommon condition.

We have received tremendous support from friends and family, with donations of T-shirts, flyers, banners and raffle prizes already secured.

Anyone who would like to support the cycle can log onto Facebook and find the Brandons Fund page for ways to help.

Donations can also be made at the Clydesdale Bank, account number 60112114, sort code 826530.