A music festival is to be held to help raise funds towards a former police officer’s gruelling charity cycling effort from Stirling to Rome in aid of the respite home built in memory of tragic teen Eilidh Brown.
Last month, we told how Johnny Dreczkowski, from Bridge of Allan, will cycle more than 1,400 miles in May as he bids to complete the enormous challenge by cycling from Stirling Castle all the way to the historic Colosseum in Rome.
Johnny, who previously worked as a Detective Inspector with the Head of Counter Terrorism and Covert Specialist Training at Police Scotland following almost 30 years police service, sets off on the marathon trip on May 28.
To aid with the fundraising mission, Johnny has revealed that on Saturday, April 29, the Meadowpark in Bridge of Allan will host The Rock To Rome Music Festival from 10am-10pm – featuring live music, DJs and the spoken word.
Tickets will be available through Eventbrite soon, and full details of the day’s events will be published shortly.
The event is being produced by John Pryde Music in association with the Cold Town Brewery, and the Meadowpark Bar, Kitchen and Rooms.
In addition, on Saturday, May 13, the popular Westerton Arms, Bridge of Allan, are running a charity brunch in aid of The Rock To Rome cycling event between 9am and 11.30am. Anyone who wants to come for brunch and support the Eilidh Brown Respite Home can book by calling 01786 200545 to make their reservation.
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All proceeds from the brunch go straight to the charity.
In anticipation of the massive cycle challenge, Johnny has already managed to raise more than £8,000 before a pedal has been turned in anger.
He has set himself the target of raking in £20,000 for the charity.
Earlier this month, the 54-year-old picked up a special donation from Stirling’s Slater Menswear for £500. Johnny said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Slater Foundation could help a really important local charity, so close to people’s hearts. Slater Menswear are also directing all future monies from the sale of their carrier bags to the Eilidh Brown Respite Home, with no time limit.”
Ahead of May’s monster effort, Johnny has been on the city’s roads, putting in the preparation work. He this week told the Observer: “My training schedule is going well, characterised by a strict diet, no alcohol, 6am rises, porridge, brutal sessions on the bike with The Blazing Saddles cycling team, or tough circuits sessions with the Gurus For Eilidh Cross-Fit team in the evenings. I have lost over a stone in weight so far and doing my best to get down to 12st 6lbs for the challenge, from 14st 2lbs.
“I have finalised my route across Europe to Italy and have set myself an ambitious target of arriving at the Colosseum in Rome on the afternoon of Friday, June 16, where I’ll be met by my wife Alexandra from Ally Croll Architect Ltd, who designed the respite home.
“My route will see me stopping at Coldstream, Newcastle in the UK, Amsterdam and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Cologne, Bad Camberg, Heidelberg, Kirchheim Unter Tek, Burgau and Starnberg, in Germany, Innsbruck in Austria, Bolzano, Borgo Valsugana, Venice, Ravenna, Sansepolcro, Perugia, and Montefiascone in Italy before arriving at my destination in Rome.”
Eilidh’s dad, Gordon, said: “We are blown away by Johnny’s latest fundraiser. This is a monumental task and we as a family thank him not only for this but for his constant support for many years now. He’s our superstar.”
Johnny is no stranger to charity efforts. In May 2021, he cycled 875 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats in support of the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund.
His wife, Ally Croll, was the architect who designed the respite home and ever since Johnny has undertaken fundraising missions.
Stirling girl Eilidh lost her fight for life on March 25, 2010, nine days before her 16th birthday. While battling a rare cancer, Eilidh and her family, from St Ninians, had spent quality time at respite home Calum’s Cabin on the Isle of Bute.
To donate to Johnny’s effort, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/therocktorome or visit https://www.therocktorome.co.uk/
