Fundraising cyclist takes on Oz-some trek

Published on 30/06/2012 12:00

A MAN who cycled America in memory of his late wife is now set to peddle 4000 miles across Australia.

Andrew Dickson, 59, plans to spend two months travelling west to east to raise money for a fund set up in memory of tragic Falkirk football player Craig Gowans.

Mr Gowans died in 2005 after being electrocuted when a 20-foot-long pole he was carrying struck power lines.

All money raised will be split with Radio Lollipop, a music station for children in hospital.

After completing a similar expedition to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland, which helped when his wife, Eileen, was diagnosed with the condition aged just 48, Mr Dickson decided to don his crash helmet again for a new challenge.

“I just felt it would be nice if some charity could raise some funding off the back off this challenge,” he said.

“Last year I did 4500 miles in two months, but I spent two weeks in Washington DC at the end because whenever I got somewhere I just wanted to keep cycling. I’m hoping I can do the 4000 miles in two months.”

Starting out in Perth, on the south-west corner of the country, Mr Dickson will cycle through Adelaide and Melbourne before passing through the capital Canberra, on to Sydney and finishing in Brisbane.