A SKATEBOARDER from Cardross and his friend have decided to turn a "drunken pub idea" into a challenging fundraiser.
Craig Ross and pal Keir Lindsay, from Glasgow, are planning to rollerblade the length of the UK for Save the Children charity.
The epic challenge will see the pair travel around 850 miles using a pre-planned route from John O'Groats at the northern tip of Scotland through to Lands End at the furthest reaches of Cornwall.
They are aiming to raise £3,000 for the charity's work across the UK and overseas.
The men were originally inspired by Glasgow woman Geraldine McFaul, who set off from her home in May and walked 2,000 miles to Rome.
Craig, 37, told the Advertiser: "The idea started off as something stupid in a pub.
"We were aware that someone had done it on a skateboard a couple of years ago, but we thought it would it would be different to do it on rollerblades.
"I skated for years and nearly turned professional, but then I broke my leg in two places and fractured my skull which took me out of the game.
"I still skate to this day but I don't take it as seriously as Keir does.
"Skating is such a high endurance sport, especially when you are going for a certain length of time, but we are looking forward to giving it our best try.
"We set up the GoFund me page and it has grown arms and legs from there."
The duo are set to officially start the challenge on March 1 and the pair are hoping to get backing from the community.
"We already have the route planned out from the person who did it on a skateboard, but we plan to be quicker on our rollerblades," Craig added.
"We are not chasing the adrenaline rush. We are chasing life.
"Most people who come up with an idea won't follow through with it, but the minority who do are in extreme sports.
"Keir and I have always been doing crazy and mad stuff, but this is the first time that we are fundraising for a cause from one of our ideas.
"We are hoping to film our journey along the way to let other people become part of our challenge.
"We both have been skating that long that I think we are under the illusion that it will be easy.
"We decided to raise money for Save the Children because parents are struggling.
"Children are completely innocent to the way this world is and they are the future generation of our workforce.
"If we don't help them now then what is the impact of today going to be 20 years later?
"We have to protect them from the state of affairs that we are all currently experiencing.
"Their chances of life in the future are either going to be through a lucky break or hard work.
"If something so simple as skating from north to south of the country for a few quid is going help then we will do it and we are hoping that people will get behind and support us.
"We also have no doubt that once we finish it we will be back at the pub brainstorming our next crazy idea."
For more information and to donate to the fundraiser visit their GoFundMe page at tinyurl.com/rollerbladeuk.
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