Golfing friends on right course as they smash fundraising target

Angus golfing pals Pam Strachan and Louise Cameron have smashed a fundraising target after racking up the miles in a 24-hour walking and cycling challenge.

They covered more than 144 miles around Montrose to raise funds for Marie Curie, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and mental health charity Penumbra.

The Royal Montrose Mercantile Golf Club friends came up with the challenge as an unusual way of marking Pam’s 65th birthday after she celebrated the milestone in July.

Having set a target of £750, they have now topped £3,000 with the Day 2 Make a Difference challenge and hope to add to the JustGiving campaign even further before it closes next month. “We have been very lucky and humbled by all the support we have been given,” said Pam.

The determined duo had to contend with stormy conditions in the opening few hours of their challenge a couple of weekends ago, but battled on to complete dozens of loops of a town circuit, starting from the golf club and following a route of almost two-and-ahalf miles around the beachfront.

“In the end we cycled 99 miles and walked around 45,” said Pam, an exercise referral consultant with Angus Alive based at Montrose sports centre. “We had a great support team, including my husband, John, and Louise’s husband, Jim, as well as our friends Margaret Stewart, Marion Pyper and Gladys Keir.

“Preparing for it certainly gave us something to keep focused on during lockdown – every Saturday morning we did an 11-mile walk together,” she added.

Pam Strachan and Louise Cameron have been taking the lead in raising money for charity with their 24-hour walking and cycling efforts.