The Big One – Russell and Sparky’s Stride the Clyde Story
Our Stride the Clyde challenge encouraged supporters to cover 106 miles – the length of the River Clyde – throughout the month of June. It was your challenge, your way, and one very special duo who certainly made it their own were Russell and his dog, Sparky!
Hear how they turned Stride the Clyde 2025 into one unforgettable adventure.
Stride the Clyde 2025
“When I first signed up, my plan was simple – divide 106 miles by 30 days, and chip away at it with daily walks and cycles.
But then I realised it worked out at about 3.5 miles a day, and with family life and work shifts, I thought Let's just do one big challenge, and do it our way!”
And so, ‘The Big One’ was born: a multi-day cycling challenge taking Russell and Sparky across Scotland, turning their usual summer adventures into something even more meaningful.
“Sparky and I love being outdoors, from hill-walking and climbing Munros to cycling to Kirkintilloch and back. It made sense to channel that into fundraising and make it count for something bigger!”
The Challenge
“We set off from the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow on June 20th, cheered on by some of the charity team, and with Sparky proudly sporting his own branded bandana!
“From there, we cycled to Stirling Castle for a night of camping, then on to Edinburgh Castle, and aimed to finish at Tantallon Castle.
“At least, that was the plan, but I was so exhausted by the time we got to Stirling that I decided to make Edinburgh Castle the finish line. In the end, we still smashed the 106 miles and finished with a total of 138 miles!”
“It was truly an amazing experience to cycle through Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh with ma wee dug, Sparky.”
The entire adventure was streamed live on Twitch, with a special ‘Sparky Cam’ documenting the pup’s journey in his bike’s front basket. These streams allowed friends, family and supporters to cheer the pair on, and donate to Russell’s JustGiving page.
Together, the pair raised an incredible £830!
Fundraising Superstars
“My son Robbie, who’s 14 now, was referred to the children's hospital when he was younger for heart checks. The team were amazing with him, and the hospital environment helped make the whole experience feel less scary.
He still remembers the games on the walls and the activities – it just didn’t feel like a hospital to him. I was so grateful for that.”
Because of this, Russell decided to split the funds evenly between Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and Games for the Weans. He adds:
“As a lifelong gamer, I know how powerful and calming gaming can be, especially for young people going through difficult hospital stays. Games for the Weans really resonates with me, so I wanted to give back to both causes.”
Thank you, Russell and Sparky, for supporting our young patients through Stride the Clyde 2025!
If you’ve been inspired by Russell and Sparky’s adventures, get active for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and sign up for this September’s Teddy Trail!