MEMBERS of the Cycling Souters team taking part in next month’s Doddie Charity Ride to Rome have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the fantastic support they’ve received.

The 11-strong Selkirk group will ride in a relay to Rome (a total of 1,500 miles) to help ex-Scotland skipper Rob Wainwright deliver the match ball for Italy’s Six Nations fixture against Scotland in the Stadio Olympico on March 9.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve had from local companies, organisations and from members of the public,” said Cycling Souters team member David Anderson.

“The ride is going to be a huge challenge, both logistically and from the enormous distance that needs to be cycled.

“However, the riders have been training hard for several months, and the phenomenal support we’ve received across the board has given everyone a huge boost.”

The aim of the ride is to raise as much money as possible for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which is working towards a world free of MND by funding vital research into the disease.

The Cycling Souters have already surpassed the £20,000 total they raised in 2022, when they rode from BT Murrayfield to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in 48 hours to deliver the Wales v Scotland rugby ball.

The riders will leave Selkirk’s Market Place at 8am this Sunday, March 3, riding 90 miles to Newcastle to catch the overnight ferry to Amsterdam, before heading down through the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy, arriving in Rome’s Piazza Navona less than a week later.

You can follow the Cycling Souters’ journey to Rome by clicking on this link to the group’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/1163536504368700

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the cyclists’ effort should follow this link to the group’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/team/cyclingsouters