"Great response" – Annie Kenyon Developments raises five-figure sum in rugby legend Doddie Weir's memory at Turriff Show
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RAISING £15,000 in rugby legend Doddie Weir's honour was too small a goal for local firm Annie Kenyon Developments – which was forced to aim higher after nearly beating its target in a weekend.
Director Duncan Barton said £20,000 is now the goal, speaking hours into his second day of riding an exercise bike at the company's Turriff Show stand on Monday (July 31).
Mr Barton will take part in the Rugby World Cup Challenge, which aims to raise £555,555 with a 703-mile charity bike and walk from Murrayfield to the Stade De France at September.
Over his two long Turriff Show stints, he cycled more than 170 miles and spend more than 12 hours in the saddle.
As well as promoting Mr Barton's efforts, Annie Kenyon Developments also asked farmers to hand over the value of a tonne of produce through their Donate a Tonne for Doddie scheme – which saw donations of up to £500.
The fundraising efforts brought in around £13,000 for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which is aiming to find a cure for motor neurone disease.
"My partner Annie Kenyon's mum died of MND," Mr Barton said.
"We decided to fundraise for it, so I just thought: 'Well, I'll do the gruntwork.'
"And Annie would coordinate the fundraising.
"We pledged to raise £15,000 but then we raised it to £20,000, because I didn't think that was enough."
Mr Barton's efforts were showcased on Sunday, when his bike found a new home aboard a trailer towed by the Tartan Tractor – which is touring the UK for My Name'5 Doddie.
And as part of the vintage rally, the cyclist was paraded around the main ring while maintaining his pedalling effort.
Based at the Ravenhill stand, the New Holland tractor also featured a donation box for Doddie.
"We have had a great response from the public and the farming community here," Mr Barton said.
"We met lots of supporters yesterday, and we did a few novelty things yesterday.
"Throughout the show, I thought the best thing would be for me to be on a bike.
"It's a good representation on what I will be doing on the ride.
"And I get some training in too."
Scotland rugby legend Kenny Logan and wife Gabby Logan founded the Rugby World Cup Challenge on July 4 this year, on what would have been Doddie's 53rd birthday.
The endurance challenge includes 597 miles of cycling and 105 miles of walking, over seven days.
Mr Barton will be making the trip, his first endurance event, alongside 20 celebrities including Ally McCoist, Kirsty Gallacher, Jason Fox as well as Kenny and Gabby Logan.
The climax of the challenge will see the match ball for the Ireland and Scotland match on October 7.
"Well I was on the bike for eight hours yesterday, about 100 miles," Mr Barton said.
"I'm doing four hours today, just to preserve myself, but I will do 75 miles today so a bit faster.
"I'm beginning to feel in good enough shape to get my speed up.
"This is the first cycle endurance event I have done.
"But I have done a few long distance events personally and a couple of quadrathlons.
"So hopeful things will go well.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
