Aviemore fitness instructor follows in Davina's footsteps

An Aviemore fitness instructor is to emulate TV star Davina McCall’s incredible 500-mile triathlon after the gauntlet was laid down by her own 13-year-old daughter!

As she prepared for her epic feat to raise money for Help4Heroes, Sharon Atherton admitted: "I was watching Davina’s fantastic effort for Sport Relief on television with my two daughters, Erin and Kira.

"Kira turned to me and said ‘Do you think you could do that, mum?’

"Naturally, I said yes, I could! So now I’ve got to go and do it . . ."

In 11 weeks’ time the 37-year-old gymnastics coach will set out to run, swim and cycle her way from the northern most point of the Scottish mainland to the border all in just one week – and all of it solo.

The fundraiser is scheduled to start on September 22 at John o’Groats and finishes at Gretna – with a loop of the Cairngorms National Park en-route thrown in for good measure.

Sharon admitted: "Because I’m organising the whole thing I’m now up against a deadline and there’s so much to do before I even start running.

"I have a Facebook page on the go already but I have yet to find kit, food, support crew and transport, accommodation and everything else. There’s a mountain to climb first!

"It’s massive, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I know I’m fit enough to do it, because that’s my work, but to complete 517 miles successfully I admit I’m going to need a lot of help.

"For starters I’m needing some local backers and I do hope some of them are reading the Strathy today!"

Initially from Paisley, Sharon moved to Aviemore seven years ago for a better quality of life, along with her two daughters who attend Kingussie High School.

She has taught many High Life Highland cardholders in the strath to get fit – she currently teaches the new hardcore Insanity class in Aviemore – and in doing so keeps herself in peak condition.

Quizzed if there are any family reasons behind her choice of Help for Heroes as beneficiaries, she said: "No, it’s just that it’s a great cause and I’m a great fan of the armed forces. They’re out there putting their lives on the line for us and I want show them my appreciation. They deserve all the help we can give them."

In return, the charity is planning to feature Sharon’s fundraiser on their website under the Inspirational Fundraiser section.

She has received plenty of support from her friends as she prepares for her mammoth effort.

Claire Jarvis said: "Sharon is not joining an organised event, she’s arranging everything herself – it really is a monumental challenge she’s undertaking and I hope that as many people as possible can support her by donating."

More details about Sharon’s epic fundraiser can be found at https:/m.facebook.com/groups/402101013262545

Walking in Davina’s footsteps

IT was in February, earlier this year, that Davina McCall completed her own gruelling journey in seven days for Sport Relief – shocking viewers after she required medical treatment because of her exertions.

The 46-year-old TV presenter eventually arrived at the finish line at the Tate Modern in London at 4.10pm after seven days of running, cycling and swimming from Edinburgh to London.

Her effort has inspired others to emulate her for their own causes – including 10-year-old Billie Paul, of Kingussie, who as reported last month spent a day cycling 15 miles, swimming 350m and walking home from Newtonmore in aid of Highland Hospice.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.