A St Mirren superfan died while taking part on a gruelling charity bike ride and hill climb.

Raymond Balloch, 58, fell ill after covering almost 50 miles then scaling almost a kilometre up Beinn Chabhair.

The experienced cyclist was found on a bench by pals after suffering a heart attack when a blood clot caused a blockage.

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Daughter Laura, 27, hailed her sports-mad dad, who had already helped raise £150,000 for worthy causes.

She said: “My dad was a really fit guy and was never off his bike and still played five-a-side every week.

“He had completed hundreds of miles on his bike and would think nothing of going from Glasgow to Edinburgh in a day.

“He was super-fit and had no medical issues. You just never think this kind of thing will happen to you. It all just seems so unreal. I keep thinking he’s going to walk in the door at any minute.”

The Buddies season ticket holder – known to friends as ‘Wee Raymie’ – was much-loved among supporters.

He even donned the famous kit to take to the field for the Saint for a Day football match.

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The Rolls-Royce engineer took part in dozens of money-spinning challenges for charity.

He grew up in Paisley and became a regular at the Braehead Tavern after moving to Inchinnan and was popular at the village’s social club.

Laura told how her family has been overwhelmed by support from all those who were touched by Raymond’s generosity.

She added: “We can’t quite believe how many people have got in contact to offer their condolences.

“My dad was the kind of guy who couldn’t walk down the street without being stopped by people he knew.

“He always had time and a smile for people and that’s the way we would like him remembered.

“He was a full of pranks and would always raise a laugh, he was like the boy who never grew up, a right cheeky chappy.

“I remember he managed to get a hold of this air horn and he’d wait behind doors until somebody got near then scare the life out of them.

“He was an honest man and always said exactly what he though and I think people appreciated that.”

Raymond died on August 5 in the middle of the annual charity event he looked forward to so much.

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Paul Burke, 53, helped organise the challenge and was among the group which found him on the Munro in Stirling, near Loch Lomond.

He said: “He was most definitely what you might call a character.

“He was a wee guy with a personality more than one hundred times his size.

“Raymie was super-fit and has taken on a decade worth of challenges, cycling, climbing mountains, canoeing down lochs and raising money for groups all over the country.

“We’d put together this hill climb to raise money for Rainbow Valley, which is hoping to refurbish a hospice for children.

“Raymie decided this wasn’t enough and he was going to get on his bike and cycle there.

“He really wanted to feel like he had earned the money for the charity and that was just a wee warm-up for him with all the riding he did.

“He was the kind of guy that would always hang back and make sure the rest of the team got to the end, he never left anybody behind.

“And when you were knackered and soggy and just wanted home, he’d crack a joke or start dancing and you couldn’t help but smile.

“Raymie was the kind of guy who would slink off on a night out and burst back in with a giant wig on, a pair of sunglasses and in nothing but a green mankini.

“He will be sorely, sorely missed by everybody who knew him.”

Raymond was laid to rest on Saturday at a packed service at Clydebank Crematorium, before a service at Ingliston Country Club in Bishopton.

He is survived by Laura, wife Karen, 51, and brother Crawford, 60.

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