Inverness prisoners and prison staff take part in charity cycle
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A group of 12 prison staff have completed a cycling challenge in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and Erskine veterans charity, raising a total of £6300.
The ‘Tour de Prisons’ challenge saw the group cycle to all 17 establishments in the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) estate non-stop over one weekend – equating to a monumental 586 miles.
The group began their cycle from Inverness Prison, and with colleagues, friends and family joining for various legs along the way.
To celebrate the start of the challenge, HMP Inverness held its own event with those in its care. Three teams made up of staff and prisoners each cycled the distance of the route on static bike with Erskine and Macmillan donating T-shirts for those who took part.
Those in care at HMP Inverness also donated £500 from their common good fund to be split between the two chosen charities, which was added to the total raised by the SPS cyclists.
The group of staff visited every prison in the country, finishing at HMP Low Moss some 45 hours later.
The fundraiser was the brainchild of physical training instructors Gary Lumsden and Gary Robertson from HMP Low Moss.
Mr Lumsden said: “The Tour de Prisons was a mammoth challenge, but one we were excited to take on for two worthy charities.
“We were very fortunate to have such a strong team, and were very grateful for the support and hospitality of colleagues at each stop along the way.”
