Army Veterans take on Ardnamurchan to Boddam challenge
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Two Army veterans will be walking coast to coast from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse to Boddam Lighthouse on a 10-day, 231 - mile trek to raise vital funds for Erskine Veterans Charity.
Scott Milne (44) and Steve Beedie (42), both from the north-east, have described the walk as “the challenge of a lifetime” as they prepare to set off on August 26.
The trek will take them through Cairngorm National Park, with the duo wild camping every night.
Their initial aim was to raise over £1500 for Erskine, Scotland’s leading Veterans charity, whose network includes three care homes and a Veterans Village, supporting Veterans of all ages, as well as raising awareness for suicide prevention, which has already been reached and the pair are continuing to seek donations through their justgiving page.
Steve, a Royal Signals Veteran, is honouring Erskine after his life was “ripped apart” by PTSD before getting help himself in 2007.
He said: "We must stand together now more than ever to do what is possible, what is necessary to work alongside our armed forces community to better one another's experience of gaining back the ground in life after trauma and mental health impacts us."
Scott, a First Battalion Highlanders Veteran, and suicide survivor, who teaches and trains at Kingswells Amateur Boxing Club, said: "We both have our own struggles but try our best to do our best in life despite the lack of support, due to this we've decided to take on the mammoth task, of walking across Scotland."
Sara Bannerman, Head of Fundraising at Erskine, said: “We cannot thank Steve and Scott enough for taking on this mammoth challenge in the name of our Veterans.
The money they raise will ensure our Veterans continue to receive the exceptionally high standards of care that Erskine is renowned for.”
As Scotland’s foremost provider of care for Veterans and their spouses, Erskine Veterans Charity provides unrivalled nursing, residential and dementia care in three homes throughout Scotland.
