A FUNDRAISER is making his way along the Ayrshire coast after setting off on a charity trek from Dunoon.

Stephen Gallacher is making the near 50-mile journey from Dunoon to Troon in a bid to raise funds for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which raises funds to support people with motor neurone disease.

Stephen plans his journey to take five days, having set off on Wednesday, July 17, and hopes to reach his final destination in time for the final day of the Open Championship at Royal Troon on Sunday, July 21.

But there's an extra aspect to Stephen's challenge: because he's making the entire journey with his golf clubs on his back.

On his way to Troon Stephen hopes to play a round at some of the various golf clubs along his route.

Since setting off, catching the ferry from Dunoon to Gourock, he ended the first day of walking with a round at Skelmorlie Golf Club.

As he moved onwards to Largs, Stephen also played around the course there - before moving on to West Kilbride on Thursday.

 

From there he has made his way through the Three Towns, before his penultimate day took Stephen to the Irvine Golf Club - where he hoped to be able to play his fourth round despite the number of players on the course.

Afterwards, the fundraiser will embark on the final leg of his journey, and is more than  towards his £1,000 target at the time of writing.

The charity was set up by Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir months after his diagnosis with MND in 2017.

The number 5 in its name represents the number worn by Doddie when playing for Melrose, Newcastle Falcons and Scotland.

He died on November 26, 2022, aged 52 - by which time the Foundation had raised more than £8 million for MND research.

Speaking before he set off on his journey, Stephen said: "My Name'5 Doddie is a fantastic charity. The way they are able to support people with Motor Neurones Disease is phenomenal.

"I've done no training, I've not been in the gym in months. The only time I ever walk is on a golf course.

"If you are able to donate anything at all, every single bit helps - and it would be greatly appreciated."

Those wishing to make a donation can do so online at tinyurl.com/DunoonToTroon.

Updates will also be posted daily as Stephen completes his efforts on instagram.com/underpargolfofficial/.