Taking steps to help others

This year’s Cateran Yomp will see more than 1,000 people hit the trail for charity

Two weeks tomorrow, hundreds of intrepid “yompers” will be walking, and in some cases running, more than two marathons across the Perthshire and Angus glens.

The Cateran Yomp will take place on June 10 and will involve participants doing whatever they can to complete the famous 54-mile trail to raise money for charity.

Teams start in Blairgowrie and hike a stunning circular route that takes them through Kirkmichael, the Spittal of Glenshee and Kirkton of Glenisla.

If the 54-mile gold route seems too daunting, there’s also a 22-mile bronze route or 36-and-a-half mile silver alternative.

Now in its seventh year, it’s a chance to experience some of Courier Country’s most breathtaking scenery while raising vital funds to support ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

It’s no secret that the yomp is a tough challenge, physically and mentally, but already 1,026 people have signed up for this year’s event – and that’s not including the 50 US Marines who’ll also be doing it.

Last year’s Cateran Yomp attracted 1,056 determined trekkers and raised a total of £550,000 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Over six years the event has raised almost £2.4 million.

Brigadier Robin Bacon, chief of staff at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said this year’s event was set to be a roaring success – and reminded potential yompers that there’s still time to register.

“When we staged the first-ever Cateran Yomp in the beautiful Perthshire countryside in June 2011, we fervently hoped that it would be a real success and, of course, it was,” he said.

“It just gets bigger, slicker and better every year. We are absolutely thrilled that this year more than 1,000 yompers will be taking part, some former military, some of them wounded and injured in recent conflicts and a multitude of amazing people of all ages and nationalities, pushing themselves really hard to reach their goals of bronze, silver or gold, in this tough and hugely inspiring event.

“The yomp is a tremendous fund-raiser for the national charity of the British Army, which supports soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in need,” he added.

“In this last month alone we made grants of more than £300,000 to ex-service charities supporting Scottish veterans.

“We really look forward to seeing everyone bright and breezy and raring to go at the start line in Blairgowrie early on June 10.”

This year’s ambassador is Stewart Harris, a former serviceman left both partially sighted and partially deaf after he was bombed in Afghanistan.

Mr Harris received support from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and is looking to give something back to the organisation he credits with helping to turn his life around.

Go to www.soldierscharity.org/events/ the-cateran-yomp for more details and to register.

The yomp takes in stunning scenery across Perthshire and Angus.