On the 29th of August while most will be fast asleep starting at 0430hrs Chay and Andy will be starting their Highland Challenge starting from Ardgay through the old drovers’ paths into Ullapool.
The distance is roughly 36 miles which tracks through the paths between the hills and mountains. Why they are doing it here is a quick history of their careers and lives so far.
Chay who is about to turn 55 this year is married with two sons, a daughter, four grandkids and a special dog Levi. Chay joined the army at 17 years old and had an 11-year career and has had several tours and had the opportunity to travel the world.
Chay joined the Fire Service in 1999 and had a long career with Scottish Fire & Rescue and in 2023 left as Senior Local Officer.
Chay is supporting the charities because he has spent his working career and private life helping others. Chay has unfortunately lost and been at funerals of friends, family and colleagues who have lost their battle with mental health.
Chay’s hobbies first and foremost are grandkids, rugby, reading and is a proud member of the Widows Sons Scotland North Masonic Riders Association, which Andy founded almost 21 years ago.
Andy who is 61 years old is married with a son, daughter and a new grandchild. Andy joined the Royal Air Force in 1986 and went onto become a Royal Air force Policeman and then specialized as a dog handler and had a 5-year career in the RAF. Sadly, Andy saw at a very young age what mental health can do when one of his dog handler colleagues took his own life.
Andy went onto become involved in the medical sales arena and most recently has taken up a new role working for an interventional pain company who specialize in radio frequency ablation and spends quite a lot of time in theatres with consultants.
Andy is also a mental health first aider and the reason he is taking on this challenge is to give something back to the charities and help raise awareness of mental health and suicide in both young children and adults, helping with the stigma of discussing mental health issues.
Andy’s hobbies are mountain biking, road cycling and motorcycles.
Andy and Chay are raising funds for 3 charities that are very special to them, with the target of raising £2000 for each charity. Bravehounds, Young Minds & SAMH.