Abington leukaemia sufferer ready to cycle to Malaga

Brave Hugh Forgie, who lives in Abington, has lived with the disease for the past 13 years and is determined to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, based at the Beatson in Glasgow.

However, preparations for the 2,000 mile cycle from Glasgow to Malaga were disrupted last month when Hugh (59) suffered a trapped nerve in his neck, which required complete rest.

Hugh, who will do the cycle alongside wife Margaret, said: “The training was going fine until I got the neck injury which took me off the bike for two and a half weeks.

“We were planning to set off this month but the trip has now had to be put back to July 3.

“It’s a shame because training was going well up until then and now I’m trying to catch up.

“Margaret has been doing well and she says that she is getting stronger every week.”

A former Scottish athlete, triathlete and a member of Great Britain’s long- range rifle team, Hugh, originally from Carluke, suffers from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and continues to make weekly trips to The Beatson.

Despite this, Hugh is planning to cycle an unbelieveable 140 miles per day with Margaret cycling an additional 60.

Already an incredible £22,500 has been raised by the couple with more money coming in by the day.

For more on this, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette, or sponsor Hugh and Margaret by logging onto www.justgiving.com/Margaret-Forgie3.