Police inspector Carron McKellar and professor Corri Black will face high winds, rough terrains and many hours on mountain trails as they take on a 215 mile endurance run across Scotland in just six days at the end of September.
Setting off from the most westerly point of the UK mainland, Ardnamurchan Point, on September 30, the pair will cross the country to raise funds for the Maggie’s Centre in Aberdeen, where they received support while both their partners underwent cancer treatment.
Carron, a Community Policing Inspector with Police Scotland and Corri, a Doctor and Professor of Public Health at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian, were inspired by the difficult journeys that life has presented them, and are determined to raise money for Maggie’s after benefiting from the enormous support they received.
Carron commented: “Having seen for myself the positive impact contact with Maggie’s had with my partner during her treatment, I really wanted to give something back, to say ‘thankâ€you’ and do something positive for the charity.
“For me, the challenge needed to be something which would push me to the extreme, capture people’s imagination and thus raise awareness for Maggie’s. The journey aspect seemed so apt, given the journey our partners have been through.”
Corri and Carron plan to run for 8â€10 hours per day through some of Scotland’s most picturesque and remote areas, with the route crossing through Fort William, Dalwhinnie, Braemar, Banchory and finally crossing the finishing line at Maggie’s in Aberdeen.
Corri explained: “Running is how I met my husband and it’s been a big part of our lives together. Joe’s cancer has taken that from us and that has been really hard. Maggie’s Centre has helped us live with cancer. This journey across Scotland is about highlighting the physical and mental health impacts of cancer and the fantastic work Maggie’s Centres do.
“I am a Health Data Scientist and plan to collect as much data as I can during our journey – maps, physical measurements but also emotional measurements, photos and memories – to create a digital log of our journey. I suspect it will have many parallels to the journey through cancer that, with our partners, we have experienced.”
Susan Sutherland, Maggie’s Aberdeen Centre Head, said: “Corri and Carron are taking on such a brave challenge and we are delighted and honoured that they have chosen to raise the money for Maggie’s. The journey itself reflects the path both ladies and their partners have been undertaking recently.
“They have already been on The Adventure Show and are both keen users of social media, so the awareness of Maggie’s has already been boosted by their challenge. We cannot thank them enough. We would like to wish them the best of luck and also to those who will join them in Aberdeen.”
Carron commented: “This is going to hurt, but knowing that we have helped raise awareness about Maggie’s and the amazing work it does, will go some way to alleviate that... I hope!”
Waiting for them at the finish line will be Corri and Carron’s family and friends, and celebrations will continue at Maggie’s from 4pm, where supporters are invited to join them to mark this fantastic achievement.
For more information, or to sponsor Corri and Carron, visit https://www.justgiving.com/teams/CS6D.