Charity virtual NC500 ride at Thurso to aid people affected by the Turkey/Syria earthquake

There will be a charity virtual cycle ride at the weekend in Thurso's Tesco supermarket to help survivors of the Turkish/Syrian earthquake.

Over Saturday and Sunday (February 25 and 26) there will be two exercise bikes in the store foyer along with collection buckets as staff members attempt to cycle the equivalent mileage of a NC500 road trip.

Thurso Tesco community champion Mandy Mackay said: "Hopefully there will be a stream of my colleagues cycling all day to reach our target of completing the NC500.

"I will still be on holiday but I will be there for both days to do my bit. We intend to start virtually in Inverness and make our way up the west coast and then back down. I think I have enough people interested in doing it to complete the challenge."

Mandy says that collection buckets are placed at each checkout to give the fundraising a boost before the main event. "Seeing all the images on the TV was heartbreaking – what these poor people must have gone through is unthinkable. Our store manager Paul Budd is firmly behind this latest fundraiser."

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