On June 21, Ian Halliday and a team of around eight other cyclists are set to cycle 30 miles from Tomintoul through the hills to Inchrory, Loch Builig and Gairnside, finishing in Ballater. Other cyclists taking part include locals Katrina Farquhar and sister Sheena Fraser, Barry and Jenna Florence and David Murray.

Ian, who works for Diageo as a mashman/stillman based at Royal Lochnagar Distillery, said the January attack came totally out of the blue, and he had never had any heart or chest problems previously.

When he suffered the heart attack, Ian - a keen mountain biker who also runs Ballater Judo Club - just thought he had indigestion.

"My left arm and bicep felt as if someone had it in a vice grip," said Ian, who has a son and daughter, aged 22 and 20. "I thought it was maybe a stroke because my father suffered strokes.

"My partner, Sandra Cooper, said as soon as she looked at me she knew something was wrong and called an ambulance and within 10 minutes, paramedics were here.

"Their machines said something was wrong but they weren't sure exactly what it was. They gave me aspirin to chew and gave me another pill to put under my top lip.

"I said I would go to work, as I had to drive to Blair Atholl, but they said 'you're going into town!' put their blue lights on and took me into Aberdeen.

"It all felt totally and really weird. The pain was sore in my left arm, but the pain in my chest was still like indigestion. I was taken straight onto the coronary ward and because I had a blockage in my artery, I was operated on the next day.

"They fitted three stents into where the blockage was, to widen the area. I was wide awake during the keyhole surgery and was sitting watching it on the screen."

Ian spent three days in hospital and will now have to take medication for the rest of his life to prevent any other such occurrence. He has also just finished eight weeks of cardio-rehabilitation in Banchory.

Speaking about the heart attack, Ian, of Richmond Place, added: "I was very surprised. I was probably pretty fit as I was always on the bike and I run Ballater Judo Club.

"People were saying 'If Ian Halliday can have a heart attack and he's always on his bike and doesn't drink or smoke, then I'm going to keep on drinking and smoking!' but this was going to happen to me anyway and my way of life has saved my life. If I'd been a couch potato, I would've been dead. I don't want to preach to people, but I am a believer in everything in moderation.

"In terms of my diet, I was probably carrying a wee bit of excess weight and had a fondness for sweeties and chocolate, but I've stopped all that now and have lost two stones in weight.

"I always leave something on my plate now after a meal and I feel better now than I've ever done. It was bemusing at the time, thinking 'I can't believe this has happened to me' but I'm back to full-time work next week and fortunate in that I've got the second chance that many people don't get."

The bike race has been organised by Ian's friend Katrina Farquhar, of HM Sheridan Butchers in Ballater.

Ian said: "I was in the hospital and Katrina's sister came to visit and her husband said 'Katrina's wondering if you would be able to help us with a bike ride?' because I am a qualified trail cycle leader. At that point I thought I'd never be able to get on a bike again, but said I would help all I could.

"I want to give something back for the excellent care I received from paramedics, doctors and nurses and rehabilitation staff and just raise as much as possible for the BHF."

Sponsor forms for the bike race are available in various outlets in Ballater, including the golf club, Cycle Highlands (who are donating cycles for use on the day and are taking the bikes to Tomintoul for the start of the run), H M Sheridan Butchers and the Balmoral Bar.
People can also donate directly online, at: www.justgiving.com/katrinafarquhar