Rugby club rallies round poignant cycle run

A BORDERS rugby club has rallied around its recent president in its support for two cyclists who got on their bikes to bring something positive from a tragedy that left the club in shock last year.

Pamela Tate, the daughter of Selkirk RFC's 2009-10 president George Thomson, took her own life at the age of 31 after a battle with mental health.

Following Pam's death, her husband Duncan contacted The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and set up a designated fund in her name, geared towards suicide prevention training.

Her brother Fraser and cousin, and former Selkirk player Bruce Thomson, arranged a fundraising cycle in Pam's memory that followed a famous 64-mile route from Dumfriesshire to the Gorbals in Glasgow earlier this month.

Before the ride, Fraser said: "The reason for the choice of route is that Pam's great, great, great uncle was Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a blacksmith to trade, who is recognised as the man who invented the pedal cycle.

"The first recorded journey by his invention was from his home at the Courthill Smithy, near Thornhill in Dumfriesshire, to the Gorbals in Glasgow in 1842. The National Cycle Museum at Drumlanrig Castle houses the replica of Macmillan's invention and this was opened by Pam's late grandfather, Len Thomson from Selkirk, in 1990.

"It is from the museum at Drumlanrig Castle that we will be starting the cycle which totals 64 miles."

Afterwards, Fraser was pleased to report that he had beaten his great-great uncle's time by some distance and raised over 7,000.

Mr Thomson said: "The run went smoothly, apart from the odd rider getting lost for a while.

"However, the lads were blessed with good weather and stopped off at the National Cycling Museum at Drumlanrig Castle before heading north to Sanquhar and taking a cross-country route to Crawfordjohn.

"The lads were met by SAMH staff to cycle the remaining few miles to the finishing line at Glasgow Caledonian University, where Pam worked as a Business Development Manager.

"The charity people are delighted at both the amount raised and the increased awareness for their mental health work.

"The total raised by family and friends from various events during the past year is now 15,000 and the Thomson family would like to express their appreciation for the generous donations received from members of Selkirk Rugby Club and for the support they have received throughout the most difficult year imaginable."

More info: www.samh.org.uk/events.php?display=sponsored_cycle