A retired headmaster is teeing up for a gruelling eight-day hike across Scotland to raise thousands for the country’s only charity air ambulance team.
Pensioner Mike Beale plans to travel to nine golf courses from Murrayshill near Perth to Rosemarkie in the Black Isle, a distance of more than 160 miles.
As well as raising a target of £7,000, Mr Beale hopes to highlight the life-saving work regularly carried out by SCAA (Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance) on golf courses across the nation.
Mr Beale, 70, has been involved in the Perth Airport-based charity since it launch in 2013.
“SCAA is often called to medical emergencies at golf courses,” he said. “And the golfing community know the value of a rapid response aircraft that can get paramedic care quickly to the scene and a patient rapidly transported to hospital.”
Mr Beale, who retired as headmaster at Craigclowan in 2007, said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support of clubs when they learnt of my plans. And most have assured me a warm welcome when I walk into their clubhouses on my travels.”
He will leave Murrayshall on Thursday, September 7 and hopes to cover an average of 20 miles a day before reaching the finish line at Rosemarkie a week later, during National Air Ambulance Week.
His route will follow country roads and cycle paths, visiting clubs at Blairgowrie, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Newtonmore, Spey Valley, Carrbridge and Inverness.
“Other golf clubs have offered support, even though they are not included on my route,” said Mr Beale. “Crieff Golf Club for instance has already donated £740 from an event and others have gifted a round of golf for SCAA to sell or auction off.”
He said that Blairgowrie Golf Club was also holding a fundraising week for the helicopter team, while the Royal Dornoch Ladies’ captain has nominated SCAA as its charity of the year for the next two years.
Mr Beale made about £4,500 for SCAA with an abseil on the Forth rail bridge.
“This time I wanted to take SCAA’s message on the road,” he said. “Our life-saving service is sustained by our lottery, our corporate supporters and an ever-growing army of wonderful people who go to extraordinary lengths so that we can deliver a service to time-critical patients.
“I feel very humbled each and every day by what people do to support SCAA and if I can fund our amazing service even for one day, then eight days on the hoof is a small sacrifice to make.”
SCAA trustees, supporters and members of Mr Beale’s family will join him on parts of his journey.
An online Just Giving page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mike-Beale2 – has been set up to accept donations.
