SEVEN dads from Scotland will take on a gruelling 100 kilometre ultra-marathon to help raise money for those affected by brain injuries.
The group from Banchory has been inspired by the recovery and rehabilitation of the wife of the run’s co-founder Martin MacRae.
His wife Morag suffered a brain injury in 2022 and now the group is aiming to raise £10,000 for three specialist facilities that helped save her life.
READ MORE: Eurovision semi-final: Israel's Eden Golan booed off stage
The route will see the dads take on a route from Banchory, up Hill of Fare, through Torphins and Potarch and onwards to the top of Clachnaben.
From there, they will ascend Kerloch, Cairn-mon-earn and Rhindbuckie, continue down through Strachan and on to Hill of Gauch before the ascent to the top of Scolty and final descent to finish in Banchory’s King George V park.
You can donate to the fundraiser by clicking HERE.
Discussing the challenge ahead, MacRae said: “I knew I wanted to do something to raise funds and awareness for the three specialist facilities that saved Morag’s life, and to recognise the trauma our family has been through, but it wasn’t until an evening walking up Scolty in June last year with my friend John Pope, that the ‘Banchory 100’ was born.
“I am a keen runner, but John had taken on several previous running challenges, and it was while talking through ideas and taking in the views of surrounding hills from the top of Scolty – with the idea generating power of a couple of cans of beer – we wondered, could we run them all?”
MacRae and his friend John will be joined on the run by Pete Torrance, Stuart Watt, Andy Leslie, Carlos Mejuto and David Stockan.
MacRae’s wife was rushed to hospital while on a family holiday in Australia in October 2022 with severe swelling on the brain.
She underwent an emergency condition to remove a large part of her skull, which relieved the pressure.
When she woke up, she couldn’t talk and her right arm and leg wouldn’t move. Over the next six weeks, she was given care from the team at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
That December, she was well enough to return home to Aberdeen where she spent a further two and a half months in hospital at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and with the Neuro Rehab Unit at Woodend Hospital.
MacRae added: “Without the care and support of the teams in Brisbane and Aberdeen, Morag wouldn’t be where she is now.
“I want to show our endearing thanks by raising vital funds for the Friends of the Neuro Ward and Horizons Rehabilitation Centre here in Aberdeen, and the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Foundation in Australia.
“To be doing this with the support of an awesome group of local dads makes its something pretty special.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here