Dunning fundraiser sets off on latest challenge

Mar 30 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Serial fundraiser goes bananas

SERIAL fundraiser Allan Crow has just pedalled off from Dunning on his biggest challenge yet, but this year he’s leaving his banana costume behind.

The 45-year-old mechanic, who for the past 15 years has raised about £30,000 for various charities on annual fundraising missions, plans to cycle solo around the UK coastline during the next six weeks.

Normally he would be flanked by mates, like last year when a six-strong team walked 162 miles from Perth to Knoydart at Lochaber in a week, all dressed as bananas and rattling collection tins en route.

“We’d always wear our banana suits and take the collection tins with us when we’d go to local pubs at night – people would have a good laugh and some nights we’d get as much as £300,” he said.

The previous year, Mr Crow and three pals traversed the four Scottish canals aboard a head-turning peddalo custom-built to resemble the Loch Ness monster.

The 150-mile voyage took the jolly shipmates a week, during which time they raised more than £4000 collected by another pal cycling alongside the bizarre craft on shore waving his tin at stunned onlookers.

This year however, despite a handful of mates who will accompany him on the initial leg of the big bike ride, he’s going it alone, planning to cycle up to 100 miles a day, much of it dressed as Bedrock’s favourite son.

“I’ve got a Fred Flintstone outfit for this trip, which I’ll put on when there’s good weather,” he said.

“This ride is something I wanted to do by myself and I’ve been planning it for six months. I’m hoping to cycle as close to the coast as possible and be able to see water all the time.

“I’m giving myself 42 days to do the entire UK coastline, which is about 3,000 miles, camping as much as possible, carrying food to snack on during the day and stopping overnight for a decent meal.”

After departing from Dunning on Saturday, the fearless fundraiser had reached North Berwick by Sunday.

Asked what motivated his annual fundraisers, which started 15 years ago when he raised money for elderly Dunning residents, Mr Crow was almost lost for words.

“I don’t know why I do it really but it does give me a great buzz and a real sense of achievement from helping people who are more unfortunate than me,” he said.

l Support Allan Crow’s efforts for the British Heart Foundation, NSPCC, Spinal Injuries Scotland and MacMillan Cancer Support at www.justgiving.com.