A Dunfermline man is looking forward to the birth of his first child, just four days after he is due to finish a Land’s End to John O’ Groats cycle challenge.
Cameron Warner, who has cystic fibrosis (CF), is hoping his son or daughter will wait inside the womb long enough to let dad complete his challenge.
Originally from Perth, the 34-year-old investment manager wants to raise £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust during what he and his friend Graeme Crane are calling their “year of nonsense.”
Their fund-raising antics started in June and will culminate with the cycle run from one end of the UK to the other, before Cameron then settles down to fatherhood.
Cameron’s wife Margaret is due to give birth four days before the boys plan to complete the cycle run at John O’ Groats.
“If I am called off the route, it will be for a good cause,” said Cameron. “But if the baby comes early, I plan to go back and pick up my bike where I left off.”
Cameron and Graeme have three challenges lined up for this year. They will cycle through Perthshire in the 81-mile Etape Caledonia on May 15, followed by the UK’s most northern marathon at Cape Wrath on May 21, and finish up cycling around 1000 miles from Land’s End to John O’ Groats in June.
Last June they completed the Lochalsh Dirty 30 challenge, an ultra marathon covering 30 miles of hilly terrain.
They then decided to take on the No Fuss Events Big Ben Nevis Triathlon, billed as one of the hardest triathlons in Europe.
The event comprised a 1.9km swim in Loch Linnhe, a 90km cycle through Glen Nevis and a 21km run up and down Ben Nevis. In October Cameron and Graeme took on the Loch Ness Marathon.
Cameron’s disease causes the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, to become clogged with thick sticky mucus. but he says exercise is the best medicine.
Around half of those living with CF will not live past 38 years old and two young lives are lost each week.
“I have cystic fibrosis and I wanted to prove that it does not hold me back or stop me achieving my dreams, in the hope that I can inspire other people living with the condition,” said Cameron.
“I am very fortunate as I have kept fairly well, work full-time and am expecting my first child in June, and am well aware that many people with CF are not as lucky as me.
“This was one of the reasons I wanted to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust who fund research into treating and curing the condition, so that all people living with CF can look forward to a longer and better quality of life.”
He said the year of nonsense came about as a result of himself and Graeme looking to test themselves physically for a cause that means a lot to them.
Cameron and Graeme are joined by friends for some of their challenges, including Lauren Mitchell, Graham Gordon, Colin Beveridge and Lesley Forrester.
You can sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/yearofnonsense.