A North Berwick man is set to undertake a mammoth fundraising cycle next month to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.

Callum Mark, who works at Foxlake, near Dunbar, and plays rugby for his home-town club, is planning a massive cycle across Europe next month as he aims to raise funds for a charity close to his heart – his grandmother has suffered with Alzheimer’s for the past decade.

The 27-year-old is planning on cycling a 500-mile route from Amsterdam, through the Netherlands and the east of Germany, before he ends up in the capital, Berlin.

He has set himself the target of completing the route within five days, and is looking forward to the challenge, depsite having only become involved in cycling just over a year ago.

He said: “Cycling came onto the radar through my involvement with the Scottish Cyclocross Series at Foxlake Adventures and it seemed to stir a new-found interest in cycling and, uncharacteristically, exercise within me.

“My predictable hankering for new ‘kit’ swiftly followed the initial interest and after a wee visit to see the guys at the Tri-Centre, I became the proud owner of a new Ridley road bike.” Callum, who is activities manager at Foxlake, initially got the bike to save fuel in his commute from his home in North Berwick to his work, but has been aiming to increase his hours in the saddle as he prepares for his fundraising trip.

He will not be alone on the trip, though, as a group of friends from Belfast will also be making the trip.

The group plan to leave next Friday (September 5), and anyone interested in sponsoring Callum can do so at justgiving.com/Callum-Mark