GLASGOW-based electrical, mechanical and fire & security contractor A. Alexander Group is one of the headline sponsors for one of the teams taking on Doddie’s Grand Tour 2025, a cycling challenge in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Led by former rugby giant Rob Wainwright, a team of sporting legends including Scott Hastings, Gordon D’Arcy and Mark Beaumont will set off on Tuesday 4 February to cycle over 750 miles over just five days, from Dublin to Edinburgh.
Joining them along the way, the team affectionally known as the ‘Puggled Pedallers’ will pass through Glasgow on Thursday 6 February as they head north to Aberdeen before completing the challenge on Saturday 8 February by arriving in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, ahead of delivering the match ball for the Scotland v Ireland international match on 9 February.
The sponsorship will enable the foundation to further research into Motor Neuron Disease, and the team has already raised over £23,500.
Stewart Alexander, director, A. Alexander Group, said, “This is a mighty task as many of the participants, by their own admission, are not cyclists so it really will be challenging. Our own family has been touched by the devastation that motor neuron disease can cause, and we are pleased to lend our support and encouragement to the team. They are going to receive the most fantastic response when they enter Murrayfield and I’m sure that will keep them going over the five days.”
Puggled Pedallers team captain Paul Choat added, “Just over three years ago my dad lost his battle with motor neuron disease. Having witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of this disease, we’re determined to do anything we can to help beat MND, so when my brother and I met Rob in Rome last year at the end of his last crazy challenge in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, we rashly said we’d sign up for the next one. A year later, and here we are!
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve recruited a team of friends and family and set about training and arranging the logistics for this incredibly daunting challenge. Given that none of us would class ourselves as anything more than casual cyclists, we are a long way out of our comfort zone; several of our team didn’t even own a bike until a few weeks ago!”
In 2023 Stewart and director Lucy Alexander completed Rust2Rome, a 4,500-mile car journey in a restored Volvo 940 estate car wrapped in the Doddie Weir tartan. The couple raised just under £18,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
No stranger to cycling challenges, Rob Wainwright led Rob’s Doddie Cup 500 Ride in 2022, Doddie Cup 555 Ride in 2023 and All Roads Lead to Rome in 2024, all in aid of the foundation.
Further information is available from https://www.justgiving.com/page/puggled and myname5doddie.co.uk.
