The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Taysider all set for epic trek in the High Atlas
Mountain trails and Berber villages are on the agenda for Gordon Wilson in Morocco
A Tayside businessman will be scaling the heights to support rugby legend Doddie Weir.
Carbon Financial managing director Gordon Wilson has signed-up for the March for Doddie, a fundraising trek in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains at the end of the month.
A 26-strong team – which includes Scotland national rugby coach Gregor Townsend, former internationalists Kenny Logan and Paul Burnell, and ex-England star Phil Vickery – is determined to boost the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which supports victims of motor neurone disease and backs research aimed at finding a cure.
The 50km challenge from March 27-30 takes in spectacular scenery and Berber villages, with local guides and a UK Tribal Tracks leader showing the way from campsite to wild campsite.
Gordon, 51, has already raised more than £5,500 in sponsorship.
“As a business, Carbon has been supporting some of his fundraising events and I wanted to do something on a personal level,” he said.
“Doddie has been truly inspirational and it is great to see the foundation enjoying support from across Scotland and beyond.
“The foundation has already helped more than 1,000 people affected by MND.”
Gordon, who is more at home on the fairways at Blairgowrie Golf Club, admits he will be venturing out of his comfort zone in Morocco.
“I have been doing a lot of cycling indoors over the winter, and recently tackled Schiehallion in rather testing conditions.
“If the weather gets better I’m planning a weekend of Munro-bagging to round off my preparations.
“The advice has been ‘train hard, trek easy’.”
The Doddie team flies into Marrakech and immediately makes for the village of Imlil, at 1,740 metres, en route to the Tizi Tamatert pass at 2,279m.
Day two from Foussarou to Tizi Oussem will clock-up 20km, passing through a series of mountain villages and walnut and juniper groves, taking in some stunning views along the way.
The final day is a 15km trek over Tizi Mzzik at 2,500m and back to Imlil.
The March for Doddie can be supported atjustgiving.com/campaign/ marchfordoddie