A WELL-KNOWN county businessman – who has run multiple marathons, jumped from a plane in Dubai and dedicated years of his life to raising funds for charity – offered a generous helping hand to a Tranent woman with ME when he gifted her a “life-changing” mobility scooter.

Alex Brown is the owner of Ideal Flooring Solutions in Musselburgh and the author of Hit Me – a novel about an ex-boxer with terminal cancer.

Andrea Ridley, who has myalgic encephalitis (ME), was touched by Alex’s kindness last week when he bought and supplied her with a crucial mobility scooter that will improve her quality of life.

Andrea’s support worker, Christine Grant, had contacted community stalwart Davie Martin and the team at Tranent Belters for advice on how she could help Andrea regain her independence.

Andrea, who lives on a farm on the outskirts of Tranent, previously relied on support workers and neighbours for shopping tasks and could only travel into Tranent in an old car – which has since been taken to a garage where it was declared unfit for purpose and eventually scrapped. Her story was shared with Alex, and he felt passionately about helping the woman enjoy time with her daughter and explore her town with ease.

Alex said: “When I saw the appeal for Andrea, I got in touch and was very happy to supply a mobility scooter.

“I was offered another one to purchase so I bought that too, so another will be handed out to someone in need next week.

“Davie and the Tranent Belters will find a great home for the next one.”

And he added: “We do a clearance sale in our property on Bridge Street in Tranent and we do it to raise money. We give free carpets to people in need; I gifted over 20 children with physical issues carpets last Christmas.

Since we re-opened on April 27, we have gifted about two full flats of carpets and seven individual carpets.”

Alex is no stranger to raising money and awareness for charity.

He added: “I have been involved in charity work since I was a young man.

“I raised over £20,000 for children with leukaemia when I ran marathons in Edinburgh, London and New York as well as the Great North Run. I am always raising awareness and money when I can.

“I did Sober October last year and raised over £3,000 for that and I did a kilt walk in aid of Radio Saltire and raised a few thousand pounds, and then some more money was raised when I did a skydive in Dubai.

“I am always trying to help the local community or anyone in need.

“It came at the right time that Andrea was needing this scooter.”

Davie Martin said: “This is an amazing act of generosity by a local businessman, who gave to help this local lass in need.

“I just feel it’s very uplifting that a business that has been hugely affected during these tough times can still think of others.”

The Tranent Belters, a long-standing charitable community group, has raised in excess of £500,000 for charity during its 47 years.

The group is always on the lookout for members of the community in need of mobility scooters and aids.

Douglas Robertson, vice-president of the Tranent Belters, joined Alex and Davie to hand Andrea her life-changing scooter.

Alex added: “If you can help, you should.”