TWO sons will take on a gruelling cycle from one end of the country to the other – and more – in memory of parents.

Keith Courtney will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and then back to his home in Dunbar in memory of his mum Fiona Thomson.

Joining him on the route, which totals more than 1,300 miles, will be friend and former Dunbar rugby team-mate Richard Gallacher.

Richard is cycling in memory of his dad David Gallacher, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer related to asbestos exposure, in June 2015 and died in November that same year.

Together, Keith and Richard are raising funds for the Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation for the Haematology Centre at the Western General Hospital, as well as St Columba’s Hospice.

Keith, 35, highlighted the efforts of staff in looking after his mum, who was diagnosed with leukaemia before she died in 2014 aged 59.

He said: “The back-to-back hundreds of miles all the time – it is well out of our comfort zone – will probably be the toughest challenge but we have got the mindset and mentality to overcome that.

“We are thriving on the challenge ahead and really looking forward to it.

“Both of us are really looking forward to raising as much money as we can to give something back to the nurses and Richard’s charity as well.

“We never got the outcome we wanted but the support I received was fantastic.

“My mother was always upbeat and happy, even though she was diagnosed with cancer.

“She always had a smile on her face and that speaks volumes for me. I just want to give something back to show my appreciation to the doctors and nurses that looked after my mother.”

Already, the duo have raised more than £5,500, with the money to be split between the two good causes.

Richard, who runs plumbing, heating and gas business Kitgas, was delighted with the amount raised.

The two friends had planning to complete the 1,350-mile journey in September last year.

That was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but Richard and Keith will now set off on September 4 this year, and hope to be finished and home within 12 days.

After reaching John O’Groats, the Dunbar residents will spend another three days heading south, stopping off in Aviemore and Dunfermline before visiting the charities on the last leg home.

Richard said: “The last three weeks of his life, my dad was in St Columba’s Hospice and I have to say that all the time there, the doctors and nurses are second to none.

“That is one of the main reasons I wanted to do this – to give something back for the care my dad got.”

Dad-of-three Richard, 40, described his dad as his “hero” and wanted to give back to the Edinburgh-based charity.

He said: “If anybody goes through this sort of thing, a big part of it is to tell the truth and being straight with you.

“They told us from the start what was happening, nothing was hidden or trying to make it something different.

“You know what is coming but you want somebody to tell you and be straight up with you. Their care was second to none.”

To sponsor Keith and Richard, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/TheBigCycle