LISTEN: Midlothian Mother's Cycle Challenge For Her Tragic Son

Donna Nelson will cycle from Edinburgh to Iona in memory of her son Chris after his death in Amsterdam.

Published 19th Jan 2016

"A true gentleman, full of life and full of love"; Donna Nelson speaks about her son Chris who was taken from her family far too soon.

The 23-year-old's body was discovered in a canal in Amsterdam at the start of last month. It is believed he slipped and fell after going for a walk.

But it took two weeks for the authorities to find his body, leaving the family in agony wondering where he was and what had happened.

Donna, from Eskbank in Midlothian, then heard the news that no mother wants to face and has been coping with the immense grief alongside her husband and two daughters.

She has told Forth News about how, one night when she was barely sleeping, the Celtic Challenge popped up on her mobile phone and she knew then that she had to do it in memory of Chris.

It is a 200-mile cycle ride organised by St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh which ends in Iona which has a special place in her heart.

You can listen to Donna's interview with our reporter Shiona McCallum below and you can visit her just giving page here too.