A team of hardy cyclists is honouring the memory of a talented young Scots piper who was killed in the Manchester Arena terror attacks.
Riders will distribute grants to youth music groups along the North Coast 500 route as part of a fundraising challenge in honour of Eilidh MacLeod.
The Barra teenager was among 22 men, women and children who lost their lives in the suicide bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
A further 64 people were seriously injured and 111 hospitalised.
The cycling team, from across Scotland and England, left from Inverness yesterday and will spend the next seven days cycling the 500-mile Highland circuit to raise money for the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust.
More than £10,000 has been raised so far to support the work of the charity created to ensure the 14-year-old’s musical legacy lives on.
In recognition of her ability as a musician and love of music, Eilidh’s Trust supports young musicians across Scotland to ensure her musical journey continues.
As part of the cycle challenge, the riders will deliver £500 grants to several youth music groups to support their teaching and help create music opportunities.
The first grant issued was to the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band with band members joining the cyclists to pipe them off on the challenge on Sunday morning from the city’s Torvean Caravan Park.
The team is made up of Andy White from Cheshire, Jane Nicolson from the Isle of Lewis, Paul Hughes from Edinburgh although originally from Kelso, Malcolm Thomson who is originally from Lanark but now lives in Shropshire, Steve Crosbie from Largs and Iagan MacNeil from Edinburgh and the Isle of Barra.
The cyclists are supported by Nicky and Scotty Young from Fife who will provide all the team’s roadside and campsite services.
The fundraiser, which will start and finish in Inverness,was the brainchild of keen cyclist Andy White, who was a relation of Eilidh.
He said: “Everyone has been incredibly generous in their support that will see Eilidh’s legacy flourish through other budding musicians.”
Eilidh’s Trust trustee and fellow rider, Iagan MacNeil added: “It has been beyond our expectations but demonstrates the legacy Eilidh has created that ensures young musicians can benefit from the same opportunities open to her through her love of piping.”
Eilidh’s mother Marion told the public inquiry into the terror attack that her world had been “torn apart”.
She said she had arrived outside the arena to collect her daughter and her friend when she heard an enormous explosion.
Mrs MacLeod said: “As I left our hotel I messaged Eilidh asking if the concert was over and she messaged back saying it was the last song.
“It was 10.29pm.
“I was just about at the corner across the road from the Arena where I told Eilidh I would be waiting for them when I heard an enormous explosion.
“The ground shook and that was when our whole world was torn apart.”
Sir John Saunders, chairman of the public inquiry published his first report into security arrangements at Manchester Arena last summer.
In it he said Salman Abedi should have been identified as a ‘threat’ and challenged.
‘Disruptive intervention’ should have been taken against him - and lives could have been saved as a result, Sir John found.
The release of the second dossier focusing on the response of the emergency services to the 2017 terror attack was expected later in the summer but has now been pushed back.
The third and final report, considering whether the security services and counter-terrorism police could, and should, have prevented the bombing, and the radicalisation of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, will follow.
Donations can be made to the Eilidh’s Trust North Coast 500 challenge via the group’s JustGiving page.
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