A 71-YEAR-OLD dialysis patient is cycling the equivalent of 95 miles to raise money for the Borders General Hospital (BGH).

Thom Veitch, of Galashiels, suffers from chronic renal failure and requires lifesaving treatment three times a week.

But now he is aiming to rack up mileage on his static bike from May 1 until the end of the month.

Mr Veitch told us: "I want to do something to give back to the dialysis unit and to help others like me."

Despite not having yet begun the challenge, Mr Veitch has already raised more than his target of £600.

Donations will be sent to the NHS Borders 'The Difference' endowment fund, according to Mr Veitch, with the expectation money will be spent on items to keep dialysis patients comfortable.

An active man, Mr Veitch was devastated when lockdown rules brought a halt to weekly 5km parkruns, one of his few ventures outdoors.

"I’m missing meeting with others at the gym and getting support from fellow parkrunners," said Mr Veitch, who is 'shielding' because he has been classed as vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak.

However, the cycle challenge is allowing Mr Veitch to maintain his fitness levels, according to Jane Chalmers, a nurse who helps him.

Ms Chalmers said: "The challenge is giving him a purpose to keep active and it's going to spur him on to see what he can achieve."

Every day in May, Mr Veitch will aim to pedal three miles, allowing him to ultimately complete the equivalent distance of the Tweed Cycle Way from Biggar to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Mr Veitch, who used to work at Adam Purves in Galashiels, had originally planned to complete a charity walk for Kidney Research UK.

But when those plans were scuppered, he came up with the bike idea and decided to specifically help the BGH's dialysis ward.

He said the money raised will help purchase items to keep patients comfortable during treatment.

Ms Chalmers called Mr Veitch "an inspiration to us all", adding: "I’ve no doubt he’ll be successful with this latest challenge and achieve a personal best time when he eventually returns to parkrun."

To donate, visit this link.