A disabled former Royal Navy chef yesterday set out on a gruelling 150-mile fund-raising challenge on a motorised scooter.
Andy Laker (52), of Carnock, set off from the Forth Road Bridge towards the Tay Bridge, and will then take in the Kincardine Bridge before returning to his starting point 24 hours later.
Andy was a chef in the Royal Navy and joined the police after leaving the armed forces.
He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 and is registered disabled.
Money raised will go towards Poppyscotland.
Andy will be accompanied by two soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Scots Guards.
He said he was “looking forward” to the trip, which took three months to plan.
“I have been contemplating an event that would both challenge my disability and raise much needed funds for a service-related charity.
“My initial target was £500 but I hope to get a bit more than that.
“People have been very generous and I am grateful for that. If I can add an extra zero to the figure then it will make a lot of very deserving people extremely happy.
“I hope that my three bridges trek, with all the money going directly to Poppyscotland, will encourage people to support me.”
Andy has received help from Kinross Services and Fife Constabulary.
“I phoned Kinross Services and they kindly agreed that I could charge my scooters there so hopefully that will make life a lot easier,” he said.
“I also contacted Fife Constabulary as a matter of courtesy due to my route and they said they could provide a motorcyclist who would highlight possible ‘pinch-points’ where I might hold up traffic.”
Andy will use the scooters two of which have been donated by Poppyscotland on his journey, which will take him along many B roads in Fife and Tayside.
They will be emblazoned with the organisation’s red poppy, making him easy to spot as he makes his way across the route.
Marianne Lee, the Poppyscotland community fund-raiser for the east of Scotland, said, “Andy’s challenge is a great example of how creative people can be with fund-raising.
“In the last year, outwith the Scottish Poppy Appeal, people in Fife have raised more than £2000.”