A former Angus man plans to mark a comeback from brain cancer with an emotional and epic fundraising motorcycle journey from the tip of Tasmania to his home village.
Raymond Longmuir hopes to raise a quarter of a million dollars from the 17,500-mile challenge from his adopted homeland to the welcoming arms of family in Friockheim, a few miles from Arbroath.
The father-of-two plans to make the remarkable trip in spring 2019, but has already marked his all clear to ride bikes again with a 10-day,12,000 kilometre journey around Australia.
Leading racers from the world of motorcycling are backing Raymond and will be carrying his fundraising message on their helmets at events including the Isle of Man TT this year.
Ray’s world fell apart when, aged 32, he began to suffer from headaches and blackouts, and his medical readings began to flat-line as he was rushed for emergency treatment.
He underwent two operations to remove cancerous tumours two years apart and was given just three to five years to live.
He continues to suffer memory loss and undergoes a regime of medication and therapy – including learning to play the bagpipes as an unusual part of his recovery – but with his health stable for 18 months he came up with the ambitious plan to give something back to those who saved his life.
“I’m completely self-funding the trip so that everything raised goes to the foundation and I am speaking to Lions clubs, which are a worldwide organisation, so things will start to really get going now,” said Raymond.
“After you’re told you have three to five years to live and you go through all this stuff, it’s just made me even more determined to ride the world and raise money.”
The journey will take Raymond and a friend across Australia and through countries including Thailand, Vietnam, China and Russia, before entering Europe.
Brother, Dean and sister Michelle Hatton will be waiting for him in Friockheim, along with a well-earned plate of his mum Patricia’s mince and tatties.
Moto GP and Isle of Man TT fan Raymond has met a number of the great racers and has already received the support of British Superbikes rider Ben Currie and Isle of Man TT racer David ‘Davo’ Johnson, riding with the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation logo on their helmets.
“They have been absolutely great and Davo in particular has gone out of his way to help, so it’s fantastic to have their backing,” he said.
Those wishing to follow Ray’s journey or donate can do so via the Facebook page, Rays’ Ride for Brain Cancer or his Cure Brain Cancer Foundation page.
