Introducing Craig Adam - Cyclist

CRAIG’S STORY

I played rugby for years for Lasswade Rugby Club and then Haddington as well. I had multiple injuries, so I'm now retired. I'm now the vice president or one of the vice presidents of Lasswade. I do a lot of cycling, backwards and forwards to work and enjoy just going out on the bike.

I've done the Doddie ride down in the Borders, and I've been doing the big circuit round there with a few friends from the rugby club.

I started playing rugby at Lasswade and went through all the age groups. I caught the bug. So I've been there ever since. I was captain for a couple of seasons. And then, at the time, Haddington were playing at a higher level, so they asked me to go and play for them. I played for them for about six or seven years. And then went back to Lasswade.

I retired from senior rugby about 10 years ago, I think.  I then went into coaching, I was coaching at the rugby club there for a while. Towards the end of that, I just started playing over 35 rugby and occasionally second-team rugby as well. Unfortunately, just over two years ago, I suffered a double fracture and dislocation in my ankle, so I called it quits after that.

In my day job, I am a pharmacy dispenser,  qualified now as a technician. 

I would say I'm a fairly competent cyclist, although I've had a few falls on the bike.

WHY THIS CHALLENGE?

I took part in two around the Borders with friends. This latest challenge is for a great cause. Through Rugby, I've met up with Doddie a couple of times. He was a stalwart at Haddington for a while. He was always our guest speaker at their annual dinners and things like that. He's always been a player that I admired from a young age. The awareness that he's brought to this cause is incredible. I mean, it's such a debilitating disease, and it has brought home a few things. I don't have anybody in my family who suffers from MND, but my aunt passed away from Huntington's disease, which is again a severe debilitating disease. 

Anything to raise funds to help find a cure for MND or even to help make things easier for people who suffer can only be a good thing. For me, it's a no-brainer to get in and get involved. I did the last ride coming up from Cardiff this year.  It was a humbling experience. I mean, it was tough cycling up from Wales, but the support that you got from the community was just phenomenal. Anything to raise funds to give something back is just one of the main reasons for doing that.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES ON THIS TRIP

The biggest challenge, I think, is just getting out of Scotland this time because we've got quite a tight schedule to make the ferries. We've got a great team of cyclists but also a great team working behind us, so the support in the background, I think, is going to be key for the cyclists to make it happen.

I know pretty much most of the Scotland team, and I've met up with a couple of the guys from the Welsh team, cycling up from Wales as well. I've met a few of them online, as well.

I wouldn't say I was nervous about doing this. I think I'm actually looking forward to it. I think it's going to be an amazing experience.

One thing I do have to watch is my gluten intake, as I'm coeliac. Most of the time, it's alright, but I tend to come prepared and take quite a bit of stuff myself to ensure I am good!

WHAT DOES DODDIE MEAN TO YOU

For me, Doddie was such an inspirational guy.  He was always fighting and taking things on, but he was also a jovial sort of character as well. He was always happy and saw the good side in everything, making everything enjoyable.

Even in his fight, he took it face on.  I think that's what we're going to do with this challenge as well, is just take it face on and go for it. I mean, he's been inspirational, what he's done for the MND community and the funds he's raised. Even since his death, it has kept on growing and growing, which is a testament to what Doddie is and to who Doddy was.