Mark shows his 'backing' for Strathspey and Badenoch community transport!
Giant steps are being taken up staircases by gallant fundraisers during the great Covid-19 lockdown, but an Aviemore man is set to break out and climb an actual hill – backwards!
As a former postman, coronavirus community volunteer Mark Allan knows the local territory like the back of his hand, which will certainly help him run up 310 metres of Craigellachie facing the wrong way.
As he prepares for his start for the 5k tomorrow (Saturday, April 25), the 52-year-old keep fit fanatic told the Strathy: “I’m doing this whacky challenge to raise funds for the amazing guys at Where2Today?
“I intend running backwards and sideways to the summit and back down again with a normal jog.
"I've changed my initial starting time and I'm not announcing the new one because, of course, we need to be observing the social distancing regulations but anyone wanting to support my effort can do so on line.
“My admiration for Maggie Lawson and her team is huge. What they are doing for this community is utterly incredible.
“What not many people realise is that they are doing the bulk of this at this time as volunteers and they were out on Sunday again, delivering shopping to one vulnerable older person who had forgotten to put her shopping list in on Friday.
“They are heroes, each and every one of them.”
A thrilled Maggie, development manager for the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company which runs Where2Today?, explained that she had asked Mark to help out.
He is no stranger to organising noble voluntary work himself, as youth development officer at Project Scotland in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Maggie said: “He wanted get his teeth into a challenge after feeling the buzz of delivering chocolate eggs around Aviemore last week as the local Easter Bunny!
“I phoned and asked him if he was up for a running challenge, as I knew this was one of his hobbies and he has been an inspiration for so many people in Aviemore through his coaching.
“I wondered if he would try running up Craigellachie, the hill at the back of Macdonald Aviemore Resort – backwards!
“It was a bit of a joke really but five minutes later he was back on the phone agreeing, adding he would not only do it backwards but sideways as well along the way.”
Then, to fit everything into his hour of exercise, in accordance with UK government lockdown guidelines, Mark will jog speedily back down the peak.
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Maggie explained: “Mark knows that at the moment our charity is not generating any fares to help keep the services going.
“All shopping, prescription and food bank deliveries are being delivered free of charge.
“Every week, bags and bags of shopping gets delivered to households of people who are shielding at home to protect themselves from this horrendous virus.
“The charity normally generates around £7000 in fares over the first quarter of the year but with us not having any emergency-only passengers, we simply are not generating the funds."
Anyone wanting to support Mark's gesture can do so at www.gofundme.com/f/running-backwards-sideways-up-craigellachie
