Strachan backs epic fundraising challenge (just don’t ask him to get in a kayak)

The challenge will see three men – Greg McEwan, Garry MacKay and Lee Peyton – run, climb, kayak and cycle their way from one end of Scotland to the other over six days in June. The aim is to raise £60,000 to buy equipment for the orthopaedic unit at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow.

Former Scotland international Strachan, who was back on home turf yesterday at Silverknowes Golf Course in Edinburgh, said he would love to be able to accompany the three on the journey, provided he was allowed to omit the gruelling journey by kayak up the Great Glen.

“When I was younger I would have had a bash at most things – apart from the kayaking,” he said. “I live beside the water in the Southampton-Portsmouth area, and I like the water, but I’m scared of it. I saw [former Aberdeen team-mate] Doug Rougvie nearly drowning in one of these things about 30 years ago. Typical football players, we stood at the side laughing.

“We were doing pre-season training at Gordonstoun and Dougie was doing his thing slapping his hands on the bottom of the boat and we were just running about laughing. We didn’t realise that he actually nearly drowned.”

McEwan is himself a well-known figure in Scottish sport through his work for the Material PR company and when he approached Strachan he found the ex-Celtic manager happy to help publicise the venture.

“I met Greig through the media company and he asked me to help a wee bit,” Strachan explained.

“I can’t do anything like that myself any more, so it’s great that as a young man you actually do these challenges, instead of getting to my age and saying ‘You know, I should have done that’. “Then at the same time you can help other people, which is fantastic. You’re helping yourself and other people as well. Once you achieve that it’s something you can take away with you.”

The 427-mile trek begins on 17 June at Gallie Craig on the Mull of Galloway, from where the three men will cycle 140 miles, stopping in on the way at Yorkhill. They will then run the West Highland Way, stopping off to climb Ben Nevis, before kayaking the Great Glen and finishing off with another cycle from Inverness to John O’Groats. “It is going to be a sensational journey for the three of us,” McEwan said.

“I have no doubt that there will be many highs as well as a few lows, but we are all focused on getting through the six days and raising as much money as we can for a great cause.”

• Full details of the challenge are available at the website, www.epic2012.org. There is also a facebook page, www.facebook.com/2012EPIC, and a Twitter account: @Epic2012.