Bravehounds will be support team for 54-mile fundraisers

miss that when you’re out.

“The Cateran Yomp is all about planning and training. It’s pretty regimental, and it’s good to have that drive back in your life.

“I’m also really competitive so I’m looking forward to that aspect!”

Alasdair added: “Since I left the military, I’ve never been without a dog. In the early days, the dog gave me focus, a purpose and a reason to get up and out.

“They’re now central to my life and my physical and mental health. Although they can’t accompany us on the route, I know we’ll all get a huge boost from being reunited with our dogs at the checkpoints.

“They’ll hopefully spur us on to complete the full route of 54 miles and get to ‘Gold’!”

Joining Alasdair is Billy Bradley, who served for almost 25 years in the Army.

The 68- year- old from Irvine in North Ayrshire said: “Three months after returning from the Gulf, I wasn’t sleeping; I was having flashbacks, nightmares.

“It was depression. I feared leaving the house – when the doorbell rang, I was shaking and sweating.

“It was at that point that my psychologist recommended I get a Bravehound dog. When I first met Max, it was love at first sight. When I wake up, and he hears the first beat of ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley, he goes into the kitchen and gets my medication.

“I can genuinely say I wouldn’t be here without him – he has saved my life.”

Billy continued: “When I first heard about the Cateran Yomp, I didn’t hesitate and immediately volunteered myself and started training the following day.

“I’ve been running for about eight months now, carrying 14kg on my back five days a week and covering 10 to 14 kilometres daily.

“There’s no doubt that a 54mile hike is going to be a brutal. It’s going to be challenging, both physically and mentally, but the