WORLD-RECORD holding ultra athlete Andrew Murray is returning to Melrose this month to give two fundraising cyclists a push.

Murray will relive his experiences of running across the Namib Desert as well as other adventures in the Corn Exchange.

This event has been organised by two local cyclists who, after losing a friend and colleague to cancer earlier in the year, have decided to pedal from London to Paris next year in order to raise funds for the Margaret Kerr Palliative Care Unit.

Rachel Megahy, one of the cyclists taking part, said: “We have seen firsthand how tirelessly the staff in the Margaret Kerr Unit work to make the difference to patients in the Scottish Borders who require end of life care.

"We have taken on the huge challenge of cycling 285 miles, from London to Paris, next July in order to raise much needed funds to make this valuable service the best it can be."

As a runner Andrew Murray has completed several endurance challenges, including a 4,300km run from far north Scotland to the Sahara Desert, seven ultra-marathons on the seven different continents in under a week, and with Donnie Campbell he became the first to run across the mighty Namib desert.

Dr Murray has published two books,Running Beyond Limits and Running your Best.

The fundraising event will include a charity raffle and auction, with prizes including an ariel photography package worth £300 courtesy of RCAriel Camera, a 4 night adventure holiday with JCA Adventure Holidays and a two night stay at the Dryburgh Hotel.

Tickets for Dr Murray's talk are available from www.jumblebee.co.uk/cycling4margaretkerr or from Mitchell Glass, Currie Road, Galashiels.