A Kirkcudbright man is gearing up for a humanitarian marathon on wheels – which starts off in a conflict zone.
John McIntosh will join hundreds of other fundraisers for the Cycle Palestine challenge on September 10-18.
First stop on the 240-kilometre route through the Occupied West Bank is the Palestinian town of Jenin.
The Foreign Office recently issued guidance warning against “all but essential travel” to the area.
John admits to some trepidation about the trip but is determined to help charity Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP).
He has raised more than £2,500 so far towards projects supporting Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.
The retired teacher, 62, said: “I am looking forward to going but it’s a very fraught situation across there. There’s a lot of tension. Just this morning I was phoning the insurance company to get travel insurance.
“The Foreign Office is advising against travel to towns in the northern West Bank.
“The advice affects only Jenin – and MAP is saying that the place we will be staying at is just outside.
“Everywhere else on the route looks okay to go.”
Tensions in the city have heightened since Israeli forces shot dead Palestinian-American TV journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the street on May 11.
The killing of the 51-year-old – a US citizen – sparked widespread outrage across the world along with demands that Israel should be held to account for her death.
Since then violence has flared in an Israel Defence Force (IDF) crackdown on Palestinian militants with dozens of people detained or shot.
John said: “We will just have to keep our mouths shut if we run into any Israeli military.
“We’ve been told to just keep smiling and not respond to any provocations – especially going in and coming out of the country.”
Meanwhile, John and his extended family will be fundraising for Cycle Palestine during the four-day Kirkcudbright Art and Crafts Trail which gets under way tomorrow.
He and fellow singer-musician Graham – John’s brother-in-law – will perform over the weekend as the Dourbie Brothers at Ashbank Studio in Millburn Street.
Graham’s wife Anne will run a coffee and cake service at the studio – venue number 93 on the trail – while John’s wife Linsey and brother-in-law Wilson Lochhead, both potters, will exhibit their ceramic work.
With just six weeks to go John is in full training for the epic six-day ride which finishes in Jerusalem.
He said: “MAP wants to see evidence that I’m fit enough to do the challenge. I record my training runs on Strava cycling app so they can observe and see how I’m doing.
“This morning I went out from Kirkcudbright up the hill to Dundrennan, round to Auchencairn and Gelston, back down to Kirkcudbright and out to Dundrennan again – that’s 52 kilometres. I think I’m well on target at the moment and have demonstrated to MAP that I can do it.”
