Former England football manager Kevin Keegan congratulated a dad at the finish line of a 600-mile charity cycle run in aid of Evelina Children’s Hospital.
Scott Gunn, from Margate, had wanted to raise money for the Waterloo-based hospital ever since he and his wife had a close call while she was pregnant with their second child.
He wanted to give something back, so cycled from Margate to Edinburgh, from June 6 to June 13, raising over £5,600.
In a bizarre turn of events, Newcastle legend ‘King Kev’, who was due to speak for Scott’s estate agency business that same evening, congratulated him at the finish line in Edinburgh.
Scott said: “I’m overwhelmed by the support I have received from friends, family and even strangers. Watching the donations grow daily has felt very special, and I’m so grateful to every person who has donated their hard-earned cash.”
The dad-of-two was motivated to take on the challenge by his family’s experience at Evelina some thirteen years ago.
His wife Vicki had been pregnant and the team at Margate Hospital were worried the baby might have a hole in her heart.
They were rushed to Evelina London – part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ – to have another scan using more advanced equipment.
Thankfully, the scan showed there was nothing to worry about, but Scott understood that families weren’t always so lucky.
“I thought that no one in the hospital would have better news than us,” he said. “It was such a strange feeling and it chokes me up just thinking about it. I thought then that I wanted to give something back.”
Boe, now twelve-years-old, waved Scott off at the start line at Margate harbour on 6 June alongside her brother Rory, fourteen.
Reflecting on his triumph, Scott said: “It was a slog in the heat but remembering the reason behind the challenge has made it worthwhile.”
