Taking the '˜High Road' from Skye to raise funds for charity

A fundraiser from the Isle of Skye is to undertake a 120-mile running challenge in a bid to raise much-needed money for a Highland cancer charity.

Alistair Macpherson in training on Skye

Alistair Macpherson will attempt to run all the way from his home town of Portree to the Highland capital in Inverness in a day and a half.

No stranger to long distance endurance events, in 2014 he successfully ran continuously around Skye non stop and raised £35,000 for Cancer Research UK.

On this occasion Alistair - known locally as Ally K - is running to raise funds for and awareness of Maggie’s Highlands, the charity that provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends from across the Highlands and Islands.

Fundraiser Alistair Macpherson

Alistair has been training hard, explained about his current challenge: “After the success of Run Skye I wanted to get the old team back together.

“I was approached by Maggie’s Highlands to help them to raise funds and awareness of the centre in Inverness and I said yes pretty much straight away.”

He added: “This is a completely new challenge and unlike Run Skye I will have to run through two evenings which I have never done before.

“This adds an extra mental challenge but I am confident I can draw strength from the fact I have a superb support team with me with a lot of experience.”

Fundraiser Alistair Macpherson

Alistair’s route takes him over the steep climb on the back road in to Inverness through to Garve where he will eventually run through Muir of Ord and Dingwall before finishing at Maggie’s Highlands.

Built in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, Maggie’s Highlands is a warm and welcoming centre, with qualified professionals on hand to offer support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

This includes practical support such as advice on benefits or nutrition, emotional support including time spent one-to-one with a psychologist.

There is also the social support to be found at Maggie’s kitchen table where people going through similar experiences can chat and share a pot of tea.

Maggie’s Highlands relies entirely on voluntary donations.

The centre’s fundraising manager Andrew Benjamin said: “We are absolutely delighted that Alistair has chosen to fundraise for us in his next challenge.

“The funds help to ensure the centre will stay open to provide these essential services to those in need.

“It will also help to raise awareness in the Highlands to others that we are here to help if needed.” The run starts at midnight in Portree square on Wednesday, 6 April, and finishes around 9am on Friday, 8 April.

Alistair added: “Anything can happen in running, especially when you are on your feet for so long. That’s part of the challenge and what makes it such a great adventure.

“I have the right people with me and I will be drawing on my own experience to ensure I put in a good performance.”

To follow Alistair’s progress please see the event website at www.skyetomaggies.com or follow the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/skyetomaggies.

Donations can be made via the event Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/skyetomaggies.Scottish heritage: for stories on Scotland’s people, places and history >>