Midsummer Madness challenge for charity 4/6/14
A keen Lewis runner is setting himself a Midsummer challenge with a difference for a Western Isles charity.
Former team GB canoeist Stuart Simpson is set to run the highest hill on every inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides on 21 June.
Starting with Theiseabhal on Vatersay and ending with Mealaisbhal on Lewis, Stuart aims to tackle all 12 hills across a dozen different islands on Midsummers Day.
Taking in an estimated 20 miles of hill running, 10,500 feet of climbing, approximately 150 miles driving between hills and two ferry crossings, the challenge is in aid of The Linda Norgrove Foundation established after Linda Norgrove, an aid worker from Uig working in Afghanistan, was kidnapped and died in a failed rescue attempt.
Since it was set up in 2010 the Foundation has distributed over half a million pounds to help women and children affected by the war in Afghanistan. It has funded almost 50 grass roots projects including orphanages which care for some of the country’s most disadvantaged disabled children, homes for widows, education for girls and emergency medical help for women who have been severely abused.
Stuart who works for the Comhairle in Stornoway has a track record of long distance endurance pursuits. A keen runner and canoeist, he won the Cape Wrath Marathon in 2006.
The 44-
“With Mealaisbhal in Uig as my final hill on the day The Linda Norgrove Foundation seemed like the ideal charity to support. Linda is buried in the cemetery at the foot of the hill and I hope to raise as much money as possible to help support the good work she was doing when she lost her life.”
Anyone who would like to sponsor Stuart should log onto uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StuartSimpson3.
The foundation was set up in 2010 by Linda Norgrove’s parents John and Lorna, in memory of their daughter who was kidnapped and subsequently died during a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan.
The charity which aims to support women and children affected by the war in Afghanistan is run solely by volunteers with administration costs covered by an anonymous donor. This means almost all the money raised goes directly to projects in Afghanistan.
Stuart’s Midsummer Madness route:
0545 Theiseabhal Mor, Vatersay, 190m
0615 Sheabhal, Barra, 383m
0700 Ferry, Sound of Barra
0745 Beinn Sciathan, Eriskay, 185m
0810 Beinn Mhor, South Uist, 620m
1010 Ruabhal, Benbecula, 124m
1045 Grimsay, 30m
1100 Eabhal, North Uist, 347m
1250 Beinn Sheilbhe, Berneray, 93m
1330 Ferry, Sound of Harris 1hr
1515 Bein Sgorabhaig, Scalpay, 104m
1600 The Magic Mountain, An Cliseam, Harris, 799m
1815 Great Bernera, Hill with no apparent name, 87m
1915 Mealaisbhal, Islivig, The District of Uig, Eilean Leodhas 574m