Cupar cycling pals back in the saddle for Enable Scotland

Grant Jardine and John Morrow are due to head off to Myanmar - formerly known as Burma - to take part in a tough challenge in aid of ENABLE, a Scottish charity for children and adults with learning disabilities.

Back in 2006, the pair were joined by another Cupar friend, James Johnston, on a cycle adventure to the Canyonlands of Utah to raise funds for ENABLE and since then Grant has undertaken a challenge in many different parts of the world including Madagascar, Argentina, Cambodia Vietnam and Canada.

Under his lead, more than £62,000 has been raised for ENABLE.

“I’ve been delighted to raise funds for them over the years as it is such a worthwhile cause,” said Grant.

“It’s an area that affects many people, young and old.

“They campaign for a socially inclusive society and provide innovative community based services working right across the country, including Fife.”

However, Grant’s fundraising trips have not been without problems.

His wife Julie was lucky to survive severe medical problems she suffered while the couple were on a fundraising trip to Vietnam and ended up in a coma with life -threatening symptoms.

And last summer Grant himself was diagnosed with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation.

He was successfully treated but has to monitor the condition daily and it has made training even more demanding.

John, meanwhile, says he was delighted to rejoin Grant to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their first fundraising adventure - and is particularly excited about going on the trip to Myanmar.

“This is one of the first trips to go to the country following the victory in the November elections of Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s party and the relinquishing of some power from the military dictatorship,” he explained.

“Cycling gets you a lot closer to the people who live in small towns and villages and it will be interesting to see how they hope things will improve in their country”.

The challenge itself is classified as grade 2 - ‘tough’.

One day involves a 140km cycle and another will see them having to tackle a 6000ft elevation on both tarmac and rough unsealed tracks.

The hardest element though will be getting used to the climate, where currently temperatures are 38-42 deg C - more than 100 degF - during the day.

“Outdoor training over the last few weeks at Scottish temperatures in the range plus two to minus two has not been a lot of help!” said Grant.

John and Grant have paid the full costs of the adventure personally, so that 100 per cent of the funds raised go to ENABLE Scotland.

Anyone who would like to contribute to their charitable efforts can donate online at www.justgiving.com/John-Morrow2 or www.justgiving.com/Grant-Jardine2.

Founded in 1954 by a group of parents whose children had learning disabilities, ENABLE Scotland has some 5000 members who help support around 3000 people .