Couple step it up to help children

An Acharacle couple are attempting to walk 41 miles round Loch Shiel from their home in Mingarry within 24 hours.

John and Emma MacDonald set out on their Loch Shiel challenge at 3am yesterday (Wednesday June 17) morning and were hoping to be back before night fall last night.

The have-a-go duo, who completed a mountain trek challenge in the Moidart hills earlier in lockdown, reckon the untried route should take 20 hours, allowing for stops.

Talking to the Lochaber Times before they set off, Emma said: ‘We decided to push ourselves further this time.

‘As far as we know this walk has not been done before and will be our toughest challenge to date.’

By completing the challenge, Emma and John, who have two children, Megan, aged five and Finlay, two, hope to raise much-needed funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

‘Since the start of national lockdown, the NSPCC has seen a huge surge in calls from children physical with suicidal thoughts as a result of abuse in the home,' explained Emma.

‘Lockdown is hard for everyone but for children trapped in a neglectful or abusive environment it must be unbearable. No child should suffer at home.

‘Having two children ourselves, we cannot imagine any child having to suffer under any circumstances and with NSPCC being the leading UK charity in the prevention of cruelty to children, we felt this was the right charity to raise money for.

‘This will be no easy walk but is incomparable to a child suffering daily. We know money is tight for everyone just now but would very much appreciate any donation no matter how small.’

Son of Moidart Ceilidh King Fergie MacDonald, John owns Deer Hunting

Scotland based in Mingarry, Acharacle. The couple also own and run Mingarry Park Luxury Accommodation and Restaurant.

‘We have a keen interest in physical well-being and having spent the last few months in lockdown, we have both made the time, in between homeschooling Megan, to focus on our fitness,’ said Emma.

‘With regards to previous challenges, we have struggled in the past to find the time raising two small children and running two businesses but lockdown has given us the perfect opportunity to build ourselves up to undertake this challenge. We can’t wait.’

To make a donation go to Emma and John’s Just Giving page Loch Shiel Challenge 2020 for NSPCC

See next week’s Lochaber Times to find out how they got on.