Employees at Edinburgh Trams are turning to pedal power to help raise money for a local charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets.
Taking time out between shifts, seven drivers and three Ticketing Services Assistants (TSAs) will be embarking on a gruelling 42-mile ride from Dunbar to the Edinburgh Airport tram stop to raise money for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.
Thanks to the support of colleagues, family and friends, they are already more than halfway towards their goal of raising £500.
Led by TSA Marc Coltart, they’ve also been stepping up training ahead of the demanding challenge - which takes place on Friday, April 21 - and is expected to take over four hours to complete.
“I always ride the three miles to work from my home in Sighthill and some of my colleagues have discovered cycling as a great way to get fit,” said Mark. “Together we decided to put our new fitness levels to the test whilst raising money for a very good cause.”
Earlier this year, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home was named by tram employees as their ‘adopted’ charity for 2017. Based on Seafield Road, the charity rehomed nearly 370 dogs and 170 cats last year and served up more than 150,000 meals.
“We’ll be passing the home during the trip, a reminder that all our efforts on the day will help it provide vital food, shelter and veterinary care,” Marc added.
Sue Bucher, HR Manager at Edinburgh Trams, commented:
“We’re all behind Marc and the team and hope they don’t feel too sore after they cross the finish line! Their commitment, and the generous donations so far, reflect the important place the charity has in the hearts of tram employees and the rest of the city.”
Anyone who would like to support the team’s fundraising efforts can make a donation by visiting justgiving.com/edin-trams.