Cancer funds drive already in fast lane

Published on Tuesday 17 June 2008 10:23

AN investment manager who pledged to raise £100,000 for teenage cancer sufferers by driving across Britain has hit his target before even setting off.

Alan Biggar is driving his vintage Morgan Plus 4 sports car around all of his company's UK offices to collect money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The 55-year-old investment manager, head of the Edinburgh Office of Brewin Dolphin's Bell Lawrie Division, decided to embark on his drive after the death of 17-year-old Zoe King from cancer in September last year.

And thanks to the generosity of colleagues, friends and Evening News readers, he reached his target before setting off on Sunday.

Alan now hopes to raise even more funds as he drives round offices countrywide.

He was inspired by the courage of Zoe after she helped raise thousands of pounds for the Teenager Cancer Trust in the last months of her life. And before setting off on the 2000 mile trip, Alan, a colleague of Zoe's mum Sharon, said: "Drive for Zoe is a fitting tribute to a very special person. I hope this challenge will go a long way to raise the funds needed to ensure that other teenagers like Zoe have the best possible experience whilst they are being treated for cancer.

"Zoe did a tremendous amount of work for the Teenage Cancer Trust and I hope that I can continue that dedication and passion in some way."

The journey is expected to last two weeks and once the tour is completed, Alan will stop off at Knockhill to be joined by several other Morgan cars for a final parade across the Forth Road Bridge and into Edinburgh. The money will help the Teenage Cancer Trust's fund its planned units for teenage cancer sufferers at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Western General Hospital.

It will also go towards the "Better Wigs" campaign for teenagers treated in Edinburgh who lose their hair during chemotherapy.

Sharon King said: "I am really pleased to be part of the team working on Drive For Zoe. Zoe herself loved classic cars and would have loved this fundraising challenge.

"Zoe wanted to see better facilities for teenagers fighting cancer and the money Alan has raised will help Teenage Cancer Trust achieve that dream."