This morning the start of Ride & Stride is upon us as Phil sets out for Scotland in the camper-van, ahead of the team’s arrival into Inverness airport tomorrow afternoon. A few of the Riders & Striders have penned a short piece on their motivations for taking on the North Coast 500, so I will leave today’s Blog to my colleagues:
Hi, I’m Jeff, one of the runners in the Ride & Stride team, both excited and slightly terrified about what the next week or so in the Highlands have to offer! However, I’m so happy to be part of this challenge. Running has been my go-to for years in maintaining physical and mental health, but this event is special. My first multi-dayer, I’m running it with friends, some of whom I’ve known for 50 years since school, and we are raising money for three charities which have huge personal meaning for me. Cancer, mental health challenge and Parkinson’s disease have scarred the lives of so many people close to me and I’m up for any way I can help them and others. NC500, we are coming for you!Hello! Emma here 😁 Excited & terrified for the upcoming challenge! Running has become a part of my life- its brought me friends, peacefulness, joy, motivation & a way to manage my anxiety. I’m a mental health first aider and a supporter of Mind. There’s been a significant shift in attitudes, stigma and openness around mental illness and mental health these past few years. This couldn’t come soon enough! This event is my own small way of putting out something good into the world and making things better when it comes to mental health attitudes, access to support and ease for people to open up! Looking forward(ish) to running up that hill!Hi, I’m Phil, one of the three cyclists in the Ride and Stride team. I am looking forward (with a little trepidation) to the forthcoming challenge. Since taking up cycling in October 2020 I have really got the bug, but this will be by far my biggest ride yet. It’s great we are raising money for three excellent charities. Cancer Research UK is closest to my heart, having lost my first wife to this awful disease. However, I also have friends who have struggled with their mental health and others plagued with Parkinson’s disease. So if you choose to sponsor us, whichever charity you opt to support is great with me.Hi I’m Lesley, and I’m one of the runners in the Ride & Stride Team. After weeks of gruelling training I am really looking forward to our Scottish challenge, being amongst friends and experiencing this beautiful country. I am also hoping to raise money for charity. My partner had cancer earlier this year and is still recovering from surgery so personally I am exceptionally grateful for all the research Cancer UK have been involved in.Hi I’m Peter, one of the three cyclists on the Ride and Stride charity team. Despite Covid disrupting my training over the last few weeks I am hopeful that I can rise to the challenge of cycling 500 miles around the North Scotland coast. I’m pleased to be part of a great team so we hope to have some fun along with the pain and midges! We are raising money for three very worthwhile charities. Cancer Research is close to my heart as I lost my younger sister Pauline to breast cancer over 10 years ago. Close friends and family continue to be impacted by it today. The impact of poor mental health is again something that has affected many friends and family and it’s good to support Mind to help increase awareness and support. Lastly as an owner of a home care company many of our clients are impacted by Parkinson’s Disease. If you are able to support us any or all of these charities will welcome your donation.Hi, I’m Nick, delighted to be involved with Ride & Stride as the single walker on the team. I will actually be Nordic Walking (ie with poles), as I’ve been doing for nearly 15 years now! I have been involved before in raising awareness and funds for Mind and for Parkinson’s UK, and I’m very pleased to be able to support their great work once again, along with that of Cancer Research UK. As an outdoor enthusiast I’m also looking forward to the physical challenge amongst the stunning scenery of northern Scotland, whilst having fun with friends old and new. R&S here we come!
Thank you so much to all those who are supporting our three wonderful charities, Cancer Research UK, Mind and Parkinson’s UK. You can access our JustGiving page by clicking on the following link:
Today’s song title ‘Travel Away’ is a composition by Billy Connolly, from his days as a band mate of Gerry Rafferty in the Glasgow folk rock group The Humblebums. More about the incomparable Gerry Rafferty later in our trip, but meanwhile I will leave you with the lyrics to Travel Away, that (at least to my ear) capture something of the adventurous feel of Ride & Stride!
Walking for Fun, Challenge and Charity! 