30 August 2017 PressRelease
Lochaber lads raise over £5,000 in aid of Birchwood Highland
A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland 105400 | Registered Charity No: SC003198
Chairman: John Palmer | Chief Executive: Emily Stokes | Ambassadors: Nicola McAlley and Steve Robertson | www.birchwoodhighland.org.uk
Two students from the Highlands have raised over £5,000 in aid of local mental health charity, Birchwood Highland, through a sponsored cycle from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
Jamie Begg and Chris Dacre, both 20, and from Glenuig and Acharacle, respectively, were in Edinburgh on New Year’s Day when they decided to take up the challenge in memory of Jamie’s mother, Anne-Mairi Clegg.
The pair set off from the Highlands on the 9th of August and jumped on a train to Land’s End in Cornwall. From there they set off cycling northwards, camping in various locations and staying with friends and family over the period of a fortnight, before reaching John O’ Groat’s last Wednesday – completing the challenge two days earlier than they had initially expected.
Covering around 80 miles per day, the trip wasn’t without its trials and tribulations, with the final day of the trip proving the most challenging thanks to the traditional Scottish summer and some mechanical difficulties along the way!
However, the support shown to the pair along the way was outstanding. Jamie, an Architectural student at Edinburgh University, said:
“The final day was definitely the hardest for us; it was raining, Chris’ bike pedal broke and I even lost my jacket – don’t ask me how! But what really kept us going was the support that we were shown along the way. We had people wishing us good luck at each place we passed, and the support we received from family and friends was incredible.”
Jamie and Chris received donations along the way, but the majority of their fundraising took place via their JustGiving online site, which currently sits at a total of £5,019.57.
Jamie and Chris chose Birchwood Highland, who work with people experiencing mental ill health in their journey to recovery, particularly because the charity covers the Lochaber area. Jamie commented:
“My mum suffered from mental illness for a number of years and she never did make a recovery. Almost exactly two years ago she took her own life and it had a huge impact on me, the rest of my family, friends of the family, and neighbours who’d tried to help her. And so, along with the fact that Birchwood Highland covers the Fort William area, that’s our underlying reason for choosing to support the hugely important work that they do.”
Commenting on their achievement, Emily Stokes, Chief Executive of Birchwood Highland said:
“Birchwood Highland is overwhelmed by the generosity shown by those who have supported Jamie and Chris throughout their challenge; £5,000 is an enormous sum to have raised in such a short period of time and it will go towards supporting the services we deliver across the Highlands.
Most of all, we would like to thank Jamie and Chris for their sheer determination – Land’s End to John O’ Groats is no mean feat – and their commitment to raising awareness of mental ill health is nothing short of inspirational.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Birchwood Highland:
Birchwood Highland was established 30 years ago as a charity to work with people with mental ill health. Whilst the charity has retained its expertise in supporting people with mental ill health, today it focuses on improving the quality of a person’s life experiences whatever their background. Birchwood Highland aims to increase a person’s capacity to live independently and feel part of the community, thus reducing feelings of isolation.
Birchwood Highland supports people to build self-confidence and adopt lifestyles that improve their health and well-being. The charity employs over 100 people across the Highlands and operates in the Inverness, Easter Ross, Lochaber and Caithness regions.
For further information or comment:
Please contact:
Màiri Macdonald
Fundraising and Communications Manager
Birchwood Highland
Head Office
59 Tomnahurich Street
Inverness
IV3 5DT
Tel: (01463) 236507
Mobile: 07392196105
A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland 105400 | Registered Charity No: SC003198
Chairman: John Palmer | Chief Executive: Emily Stokes | Ambassadors: Nicola McAlley and Steve Robertson | www.birchwoodhighland.org.uk