Tackling the three highest summits in the UK is a daunting challenge for any walker, but a pair of Angus fundraisers are preparing for a bid to bag them all in a day.
Jim Wallace (53), a vet from Carnoustie, and his assistant nurse Gill Hay (41), are set for a non-stop dash around mainland UK next week, as they take on some of the toughest hikes in Scotland, England and Wales.
By the end of the challenge, the duo aim to have completed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, raising funds for the MS Therapy Centre in Dundee and Search and Mountain Rescue Dogs (Scotland), neither of which get any outside funding.
The non-stop effort will see the pair start at Snowdon at 6.30pm on Monday and finish around the same time at the foot of Ben Nevis the following day.
Gill, who lives in Carnoustie, estimates it will take around four hours to complete the Welsh giant before they are driven for four-and-a-half hours to Scafell Pike in the Lake District for another four-hour ascent.
After that it will be back into the car for a six-hour drive north to tackle Scotland’s largest peak in a target time of five hours.
”We have two drivers so when we are climbing they are resting, and once we get moving towards the next peak we will be sleeping or getting something to eat,” said Gill.
”It is not something I have ever done before but I am into hillwalking and I wanted a challenge.”
Jim said he was donating his share of funds to the MS Therapy Centre in Peddie Street because his sister is affected by the condition.
He added: ”MS is the commonest neuromuscular disease affecting young people and Scotland has the highest incidence in the world.
”This area unfortunately seems to be a particular hotspot.
”My sister attends the MS Therapy centre for hyperbaric oxygen and attends a specialist MS nurse and physiotherapy there.
”Despite the high incidence of this condition, there is no government funding for this centre and it relies on fundraising.”
Jim added: ”Gill is raising funds for the Search and Mountain Rescue Dogs, another very worthwhile service, especially for those admiring Scotland’s wonderful scenery.
”Again they receive no government funding.”
Donations can be made through justgiving.com/jim-wallace and justgiving.com/Gillian-hay.