A 20-strong team of Chivas Brothers employees raised more than £30,000 for MND (motor neurone disease) research in an epic 200-mile cycle ride.
The staff set off from the company’s bottling site in Dumbarton and cycled to Speyside raising £32,132 for the MND Scotland charity.
The cyclists had to climb more than 10,000ft for the challenge which ended at Strathisla Distillery in Keith and topped Chivas Brothers’ £100,000 fundraising milestone for their chosen charity.
Liam Donegan, manufacturing director at Chivas Brothers, said: “It’s brilliant to reflect on the amount raised and the hard work of the team after that mammoth ride.
“We dug deep and pushed through some tough climbs, but I speak for us all in saying we would do it again in support of the incredible MND team.”
Go Team Chivas Brothers
Morag McGown, MND Scotland’s corporate partnerships manager, said it was an incredible feat.
“We’ve been blown away by everyone’s commitment and generosity,” she said.
“Without supporters like Chivas Brothers, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue helping families in Scotland when they need us the most.”
Marking #GlobalMNDAwarenessDay, 20 incredible @ChivasNewsRoom staff have raised £32,132, by cycling 200 miles at over 10,000ft of elevation.
This effort pushes Chivas Brothers' total to over £100,000! Thank you all for your commitment to fighting back against #MND!
— MND Scotland (@MNDScotland) June 21, 2021
MND Scotland is Chivas Brothers’ charity of the year.
The fundraising bike ride was timed to coincide with MND Awareness Day and MND Scotland’s 40th anniversary.
MND is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves and causes weakness that gets worse over time.
While there is no cure, some treatments are available that can help to reduce the impact it has on a person’s daily life.
Hopes for Motor Neurone Disease cure
Some people live with the condition for many years.
To date, Riluzole is still the only proven treatment for MND.
However, research is ongoing and clinical trials for new drugs are taking place in the UK.
Former Cove Rangers, Peterhead, Elgin and Brechin striker was among those in the north-east to sign up for one of the clinical trials.
Martin Johnstone has dedicated the three years since his diagnosis with a life-limiting illness to fundraising and raising awareness.