A THOUGHTFUL and determined parent is cycling over 100 miles to raise money for St John's Primary.

John Trainor, 44, will take on the gruelling Three Pistes Cycle Sportive on May 29 for the second year in a row in aid of the school where seven-year-old son Reece is currently a pupil.

Having gone to the Commercial Road school as a boy, John is keen to give something back to his old primary and is getting back on the saddle for the 102-mile ride - the highest cycle sportive in Britain - which starts in Pitlochry and winds up in Cairngorm via Glenshee and The Lecht.

After raising over £1,500 last time out, John's only focus is on drumming up more funds for the Barrhead primary to spend as it sees fit.

"Ultimately the school can use it for what they need at the time," he said.

"The idea is that one day they'll have enough money so they can utilise it however they like."

John has asked some friends to accompany him and provide moral support for an event which can be made all the more difficult depending on the day's weather.

He said: "I go cycling a lot and use the machines at the Foundry in Barrhead. I go up there and manage a couple of hours every second night.

"Last year the issue we had was there was snow and 40mph crosswinds. There's no training prepares you for that.

"If I can do it in those conditions, I think anything is going to be better than that – unless I get hit by a lightning bolt!"

Laura McPherson, principal at St John's, said: "We are very lucky to have extremely supportive parents who go the extra mile, which John is literally doing for us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank John for all the time he has dedicated to fundraising for our school."

John has created a GoFundMe page to collect donations which can be accessed by visiting www.gofundme.com/leeavk.