The “Rolling Subs” are a group of 5 Hearts supporting friends, Callum, Craig, David, Angel (AKA Archie) and Mike, who have decided to ride some bikes to Cologne.
Find out more about their challenge from Callum Mill, Big Hearts Group Worker:
It all started last year when we were all feeling pretty good about Scotland’s national team; we were at a barbecue, the weather was fantastic and we were watching Scotland win another qualifier comfortably, then Craig suggested we ride to the Euros in Germany if we qualified.
I was aware we’d all had a beer, we were getting swept up in the excitement of it all, and it was a bit of a daft idea really; so I signed right up for it! As Scotland marched closer and closer to qualification, the reality crept in that this was happening, so I had to explain gradually to my girlfriend, then fiancée and now wife that I’d be leaving her for 2 weeks to cycle through the Netherlands to watch football in Germany.
I couldn’t help but feel like this was the kind of thing that people did for charity, so I suggested that while primarily we’re away to enjoy and challenge ourselves, we could do a bit if fundraising with it. The two charities that we have chosen were easy; I work for them. There were no arguments as they are two fantastic charities: Big Hearts Community Trust and Bikes for Refugees. Big Hearts are Heart of Midlothian’s charity and run many community projects: we are raising money for Big Hearts’ Welcome Through Football project which is targeted toward refugees and asylum seekers and helps people from all over the world integrate into Edinburgh’s culture and community. Bikes for Refugees, where Mike is the hubs manager, take bikes as donations, refurbishes them and distributes them to refugees and asylum seekers in Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. A bike can make a huge difference to somebody’s life when they have very little funds; it helps them connect with the city they are in, make new friends and stay healthy both physically and mentally, all for free.
Raising money and awareness for the support of New Scots seemed particularly pertinent with current and recent conflicts, famine and persecution all over the world displacing people who are settling in our country. Refugees and asylum seekers are some of the most marginalised people in our society, often receiving little support and much hostility, so I like to do whatever I can to help. We are donating our bikes to refugees and asylum seekers in Cologne when we get there, as a way of helping resettled people elsewhere build a new life and get around with freedom in a way that is healthy and in good for our environment, whilst showing a bit of solidarity too.
We are also taking part in a friendly football match between the FC Köln over 35’s fans vs Scotland’s over 35’s fans. Hopefully we will have enough energy left to do ourselves and our country proud, David has been playing fives recently so has a decent chance of not embarrassing himself. Questions were raised about the eligibility of Angel, who is flying from Spain to join our cycle and appear for his adopted second nation, he has received the alternative name “Archie Wolfson” in order to meet stringent qualification criteria for Scotland. No questions are being asked of Craig’s eligibility though, despite actually being younger than 35…
Wish us well for our trip, and please help support in any way you can – donations can be made here.
– May 2024
