A Dundee doctor is set to pedal hundreds of miles for Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr Mathieu Soetens set off today on his epic bike-riding fundraiser.
He’ll be in the saddle for more than two weeks as he heads to St Kilda - one of Scotland’s most westerly points.
He is embarking upon the trip in aid of the Dundee Parkinson’s Research Campaign.
It is research that is particularly close to Mathieu’s heart.
His work is part of Dundee University’s world-leading research into Parkinson’s, a disabling neurodegenerative illness which has no cure and no way of being slowed down.
Before he set off he told Dundee Live: “Every week, 30 people in Scotland are diagnosed with this cruel disease.
“The need to research and develop new treatments for Parkinson’s cannot be overstated, and I hope my journey not only helps to raise funds to support our research here, but also raises awareness of Parkinson’s.”
Last year, Mathieu rode from Dundee to the UK’s most northerly point, Shetland, raising more than £3000 for the campaign.
He returned to the islands earlier this year as part of his training for this new adventure, which will see him cycle from Dundee to Scotland’s west coast, where, weather permitting, he hopes to catch a boat to take him to St Kilda.
However, should the conditions conspire against Mathieu he won’t have his feathers ruffled, as cycling allows him to indulge in another of his passions, birdwatching.
He added: “I’m a really keen bird watcher and I use my bike rides as an opportunity to look for rare or unusual birds.
“Scotland has such a huge variety of birdlife and my journey will take me through some incredible and diverse landscapes.
“It’s also great to have the support of people along the way, as well as those who are donating to the campaign, so I’ll be having fun, whatever the weather.”
- People wishing to support Mathieu throughout his adventure can make donations here.
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