247 April 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

62 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
Birkmyre U16s Top the League
Congrats to Birkmyre U16 rugby squad who topped of the West U16 Division
South League with a 50-15 win over Clydebank/Bishopton. The teams stats for
the league season are: played 16, won 13, lost 3. Their next challenge is the
season- ending West U16 Cup.
Birkmyre Rugby Club are looking to start an U18 side next season and are
always on the look out for new players and coaches for all age groups, please
contact Wallace Muir on 07941 156592 or visit the website www.pitchero.com/
clubs/birkmyre
Every Sunday
Birkmyre Rugby Club, Kilmacolm Youth Rugby Section 11am-1pm
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/birkmyre/
New players and coaches welcome
MAMILS* Smash £10k Target In Cape Town Challenge
(*Middle Aged Men In Lycra)
A group of 12 MAMILS (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) conquered the notorious Cape
Argus Cycle Challenge in South Africa at the weekend (8 March) – smashing
their £10,000 fundraising target.
The team of 12, led by Scott Hutton of Lochwinnoch, took on the largest timed
bike race in the world along with 45,000 other riders to raise money for local
charity Finding Your Feet, set up by Scott’s sister Corinne Hutton.
And while wild fires caused the authorities to close many of the roads, reducing
the race from the official 109km route to 47km, the Finding Your Feet team
refused to be thwarted - they finished the race, before proceeding to cycle
another 62km on their own to make up the distance.
Corinne (44), a single mum-of-one from
Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, had her
hands and feet amputated in June 2013
after contracting septicaemia. Now walking
on prosthetic legs and awaiting the UK’s
first double hand transplant later this year,
Corinne runs the charity which offers support
to those who need help finding their feet after
life-changing physical trauma, by means of
financial assistance, advice and emotional
support.
The cycle has this year been named the
Solidarity Tour due to the fires and in support
of the emergency services. The spectacular
route took in Cape Town, Table Mountain
National Park, Cape Argus, the Cape of Good
Hope and Falls Bay.
Scott, originally of Lochwinnoch, but who now works as a lawyer in Dubai,
gathered close friends and cycling enthusiasts to take on the challenge in aid
of the charity and has raised in excess of £13,000, though further sponsorship
is welcomed.
Since losing her limbs 18 months ago, Corinne has walked a mile through
Glasgow city centre, fulfilled a lifelong ambition to run up the ‘Rocky Steps’ in
Philadelphia, ridden a motorcycle, had regular skiing lessons and is soon to
learn to fly a single engine propeller plane. Known as Scotland’s ‘bionic mum’,
she has raised over £200,000 for Finding Your Feet which has recently received
the backing of Hollywood A-listers including Mel Gibson, Robert Carlyle, Gerard
Butler, Vinnie Jones, Andy Murray, Lorraine Kelly, Scotland Captain Greig
Laidlaw and Ford Kiernan* – all of whom have donated their signed handprints
to highlight the cause. These will be exhibited and auctioned off to raise funds
in 2015.
In January, Corinne travelled to Dubai to meet those taking part in the challenge
and offer some encouragement. She commented: “Before my illness, I loved
taking on challenges for charity and completed numerous marathons. You
never think the tables will turn and that you will become the charity. I am so
grateful to all the fundraisers and challengers out there who are helping others
who find themselves in my position. If some good can come of my illness, it’s
the opportunity to give something back to those who need a support network
like that which I benefited from. The lads did a phenomenal job and to cycle
the additional 62km in order to make up the
distance is simply humbling.”
Scott, who due to work commitments, covered
four continents in the four days leading up
to the event, commented: “Our training in
Dubai was on the flat so the hardest part was
definitely the steep inclines. But the breathtaking
scenery made it more bearable. The
fires were a tragedy and the emergency
services did a fantastic job to ensure the
safety of the riders. We were prepared to
cycle the full 109km so when the race was
shortened we decided to simply keep cycling
and make up the distance. The support has
been overwhelming and we hope the money
we raise will help others who faced with
physical trauma.”
The team included Scott Hutton, Steve Lankester, Jim Leggate, David
MacKenzie, Jason Sole, Sean Turner, Tim Davies, Richard Worker, Mark Billinge,
Mark Popplewell.
*ALL CELEBRITY HANDPRINT PHOTOS AVAILABLE – PLEASE EMAIL Ashley@
findingyourfeet.net or call 07885 262 341.*
*Celebrities who have donated handprints include Jason Donovan, Lorraine
Kelly, Danni Cipriani, Bryan Redpath, Marti Pellow, Ian Botham, Mel Gibson,
Andy Murray, Gerard Butler, Vinnie Jones, Gary Lewis, Frank Gallagher, Robert
Carlyle, Mark Cueto and Shane Byrne.
You can donate at www.findingyourfeet.net. For more information: Ashley
Reid, Communications Manager, Finding Your Feet, 07885 252341. Ashley@
findingyourfeet.net