Aviemore Army reservist major is yomping for gold
Aviemore Army reservist Heather Lawrie Taylor’s feet are going to hate her.
But they will forgive her for what she’s going to put them through because it’s all in the best of causes.
A Major with the 51st Infantry Brigade, she is taking part in June 3’s brutal Cateran Yomp challenge , a 54-mile hike in 24 hours across rural Perthshire, with fellow serving men and women, veterans and civil servants to raise crucial funds for her serving and retired colleagues.
“We are The Yomping 51st,” she told the Strathy.
“It’s going to be tough – this isn’t an easy walk by any means – but it will raise vital funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the Army’s National Charity, providing a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families.
“I’ve mountaineered and led expeditions all over the world for the Army but the Cateran Yomp is one of the hardest challenges I ever completed to date.”
She has done it all before, so she knows exactly what she’s talking about.
“The last time I took part was in 2017, where our team finished Gold and, oh my, did we feel it over the next few days. You complete the equivalent of two marathons back-to-back in less than 24 hours, with 2000 metres of ascent thrown in for ‘fun’.
“But it raises vital funds for service personnel, their families and dependants.
“We are facing tough times and so if it means that digging deep in those final stages of this epic challenge will help those in greater need, then we will do this.
“Every donation will help us achieve our goal.”
The team are doing it all completely in their spare time, while based with HQ Army Scotland.
Participants commit to raise over £400 per person to take part.
“We are going for Gold this year and raising as much had possible along the way.
“We start at Blairgowrie for 26 miles at Bronze. Next checkpoint is silver at Glenisla and then we turn back towards Blairgowrie via Alyth and to Gold.”
• More details can be found at: https://events.soldierscharity.org/fundraisers/TheYomping51st?fbclid
