It’s just a few weeks since one of Perthshire’s best-known fund-raisers completed the gruelling ascent of Europe’s highest mountain and pledged to take some time out to rest.
However, former Black Watch soldier Jock McInnes, from Scone, has now admitted he’s already itching for a new challenge and he’s again set himself a whopper.
The 53-year-old grandfather now well known for his kilted feats of endurance having raised more than £1m for charities over the years scaled the 4500-metre Mount Elbrus in Russia in aid of the Bravehearts Children’s Trust.
Though proud to have completed the climb, Jock said, “I am never doing anything like again.”
However, in deciding to lead a group of kind-hearted football fans on a 100-mile trek through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, he’s hardly taking it easy.
Jock is organising a “once-in-a-lifetime” expedition featuring supporters of Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell, with two very worthy charities set to benefit.
“We’ll be raising funds for the Davie Cooper Centre for young adults with learning difficulties and the Motor Neuron Association Scotland,” he said.
“Both the teams and the two charities have links to legends of the game in Davie Cooper and ‘Jinky’ Jimmy Johnston.
“I’ve already got 13 volunteers to come on board but I’m still looking for more.
“Ideally I’d like to take ten supporters of each team on the walk.”
It promises to be an exciting trip as what is sure to be an arduous slog through the desert will be only part of what’s in store for the participants.
Jock has a film company interested in following the team on their Gobi Desert challenge and there may also be the chance to play a game of football at the Mongolian national stadium against a Mongolian team.
And he admitted he just can’t wait to embark upon his next adventure.
“I’ve taken part in many expeditions myself over the years but I’ve never organised my own trip,” he said.
“It’s incredibly exciting and I hope that there are plenty of folk out there who would like to join me on my latest adventure.
“In this present financial climate, charities need all the help we can muster.”
Anyone who would like to join Jock and take on the challenge can visit www.jockmcinnes.wordpress.com.
The team will be heading out with expedition and race organisers Sandbaggers, who specialise in providing quality experiences in some of the world’s remotest locations.
They launched the Gobi Challenge in 2003.
Gobi Desert picture used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Munkho_09.