Scotland rugby hero dies the day after completing 1000-mile charity cycle

Ken MacAulay, a erstwhile Scotland rugby player, has died the time aft completing a 1,000-mile charity motorcycle ride.

The 66-year-old, who began the three-week travel earlier this month, suffered a cardiac apprehension connected Sunday.

MacAulay has raised implicit £14,000 for 4 charities – Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation and Prostate Scotland.

The rhythm challenge, which started and finished astatine Gala rugby nine successful Galashiels, saw him sojourn each 76 clubs and pitches helium had played astatine during his 30-year career.

In a connection connected his fundraising page, Macaulay said the situation would instrumentality him ‘well retired of my comfortableness zone’ arsenic helium was ‘no outpouring chicken’.

After completing his mammoth travel connected Saturday, Ken wrote successful his last societal media post: ‘Sorry, folks, for the alternatively little update past nighttime but things were beauteous hectic erstwhile I arrived astatine Netherdale for the decision of my adventure!

‘It was a agelong rhythm yesterday, implicit 70 miles, astir of it successful to a headwind but it was besides different time of lukewarm welcomes and large institution – astatine 1 signifier determination were 14 of america connected the roadworthy and we besides were being escorted by the Doddie Tractor for portion of the way!’

MacAulay’s household said successful a connection aft his death: ‘Pat, Richard, Joanna and household are highly bittersweet to pass you that Ken passed distant connected Sunday 27th October.

‘This is simply a immense daze to america each particularly aft helium concluded his unthinkable foundation rhythm connected Saturday 26th. We’re truthful arrogant of him but overwhelmed by his nonaccomplishment astatine the aforesaid time.

‘Ken’s archetypal effect to receiving his retrospective headdress was to usage it arsenic a level to springiness backmost – we are truthful successful awe of each helium has achieved.’

MacAulay was 1 of 75 players who were retrospecively classed arsenic afloat internationals by the Scottish Rugby Union Custodian Board earlier this year.

It came 44 years aft helium was selected for the Scotland squad which playd a France Select squad successful Bordeaux successful 1980, but due to the fact that it was classed arsenic a affable tournament, helium was not fixed an authoritative Scotland headdress astatine the time.

Scottish Rugby President, Colin Rigby said: ‘Ken was a large man, with an outgoing personality. His passionateness for rugby knew nary bounds.

‘It was a measurement of the esteem successful which helium was held that erstwhile Scotland players and British and Irish Lions joined him connected legs of that cycle, arsenic good arsenic friends from the wider rugby household successful Scotland.’

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