Trekkers take on 24-hour Cateran Yomp in Perthshire to raise over £425,000 for soldiers and veterans
10.06.2022 - 14:43
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
One of Scotland’s toughest endurance challenges which weaves through the beautiful Perthshire hills has raised over £425,000 to help soldiers, veterans and their families.
The 11th Cateran Yomp, which took place during The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, saw 631 soldiers and civilians walk side by side on a 24-hour trek across the historic Cateran Trail.
Participants travelled from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, Cyprus, Poland and the Netherlands to take on the route, located between Blairgowrie, Alyth and Glenshee.
Blairgowrie’s Bob Ellis, who founded the Cateran Trail, was the most mature participant in this year’s event at the age of 73.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s National Charity and, since 1944, has been providing a lifetime of practical and financial assistance to soldiers, veterans and their families across the UK.
Since its launch, the challenge has raised over £4 million for The Soldier’s Charity, with donations funding everything from wheelchair ramps for soldiers’ homes to respite care and personal recovery plans for injured soldiers returning from the front line.
Last year alone, the charity supported 60,000 people in 63 countries around the world.
This year’s event took on extra significance as an official Queen’s Platinum Jubilee event, with the Queen the patron of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and commander in chief of the British Army.
Starting at 6am on Saturday and ending in the early hours of Sunday, the event challenged teams of brave souls to walk 22, 36 or 54 miles in less than 24 hours.
They enjoyed favourable weather with only brief showers on the 54-mile route around the foothills of the Cairngorms, with the distraction of live music, magical lit forests and fireworks.
The winner,