A Carnoustie cricketer has completed an epic 600 mile cycle in honour of a teammate who died of brain cancer.
Craig Wallace, from the Angus town, was joined by Edinburgh cricketer Ali Evans for the trek in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research.
Their friend and teammate Con de Lange died in April last year, aged just 38.
He was the 672nd person to play for Scotland and Craig and Ali spent a week pedalling 672 miles around Scotland.
The pair have so far raised more than £13,000 for the charity.
Craig, 30, said: “It has been such an epic, memorable week and I’m actually feeling gutted to be finished, in spite of all the aches and pains.
“It’s been really tough at times but remembering Con has kept us going. The cricket community is an amazing place, like no other. When it’s tough we all stick together and we couldn’t have achieved this without the support of our wonderful cricket family.”
The journey started in Dundee on October 1. The route took in several of Con’s favourite clubs and destinations, including St Andrews, Perth, Aberdeen and Edinburgh before finishing in Carnoustie on October 8.
Coronavirus restrictions meant the original plan to visit many of the county grounds in England, which Con knew and loved, including Northampton and Blackburn, had be cancelled.
Con died two years after he being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He left his wife Claire and two young children, Daisy and Rory.
His professional career began in his native South Africa. He went on to play county cricket for Northamptonshire before representing Scotland internationally.
Craig added: “He was just such a proper, genuine and nice man. One of the finest gentlemen I have ever met.
“He was always the one who would go round the dressing room, checking everyone was okay. The cycle may have finished but this will not be the end and Con will never be forgotten.
“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Too many great people like Con are dying too young and that’s why we wanted to raise as much awareness of this disease as we can for him and his loving family.
“There’s nothing we can do to bring him back but we want to ensure that he didn’t die in vain and that we do what we can to help other people affected by this horrible cancer and to stop it happening in the future.”
Donations can be still made to the charity though Craig and Ali’s fundraising page on JustGiving.
