A RENREWSHIRE schoolboy raised a bumper sum of cash for a good cause after he cycled nearly 50 miles for charity.
- Eight-year-old Ben McMurray completed the Glasgow to Edinburgh bike ride with mum Deborah on Sunday in aid of the Royal Alexandra Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
- It’s a cause close to the Johnstone Jet’s heart after he was born weighing 2lb 15oz eight years ago and spent three weeks in the unit’s care until he was allowed home on Mother’s Day 2011.
His parents – Deborah, 34, and 35-year-old Allan – feared he had suffered irreversible health problems but the Kilbarchan Primary School youngster has overcome his difficult start in life and now has managed to raise nearly £700 to give back to those who cared for him.
READ MORE: Protestors halt Renfrewshire Cab Company plans to open taxi office in Johnstone’s town centre
The Kilbarchan Primary School youngster completed the cycle, which set off from Glasgow Green, with Deborah and seven-year-old pal Ruaraidh MacPherson and his mum, raising nearly £700.
“The first ten miles or so were fine but then it was really hard after that,” proud mum Deborah told The Gazette. “But it was no trouble for the boys and they just shot ahead of us and ended up waiting for the mums at the top of the hill.
READ MORE: Ben gears up for marathon bike ride in support of worthy RAH
“Ben was wearing his Johnstone Jets t-shirt and whenever we passed people they were shouting ‘come on the Jets’.
“The support was amazing and so many people came out to see us all go past.”
The group cycled the route in three hours and 46 minutes.
Deborah continued: “Lots of people were coming up to him because they had seen him in the paper and he was all a little bit embarrassed by it.
READ MORE: Renfrewshire Council takes swift action to prepare for Brexit ‘crisis’
tHe is happy as Larry to have done it and we are all so very proud of him.
“Doing it with Ruaraidh was extra special as he was doing it for his gran who passed away due to pancreatic cancer.
“They are such good friends despite the competition.”
You can still donate by visiting JustGiving and searching Ben McMurray.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here