Whilst most of us like to relax on holiday, NHS Forth Valley chairman Alex Linkston got into the saddle and cycled over 250 miles from Zeebrugge to Paris. The five day trip, which included a stop off in Peronne for an impromptu ceilidh with the local cycling club, was a trial run for a longer journey which he hopes to undertake next year to raise money for Forth Valley Giving.
Alex began cycling a few years ago as a way to keep fit and one of his first trips was a cycle between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Since then he has widened his horizons by cycling to Paris and Germany and has not only seen his overall health improve, but has also helped raise thousands of pounds for charities both at home and abroad.
He explained: “I find it very relaxing and it means I can eat as much as I want without it affecting my waistline, a huge plus for someone like myself who loves their food. You also see different parts of the countryside and travel along roads that you would never normally drive along.
“Hopefully next year I will be able to get some extra training in and complete the longer cycle from Bo’ness to Paris to raise money which can then be used to develop and improve local health services and facilities for patients and their families in Forth Valley.”
