Strath hosts man making 900-mile trek in memory of friend
He has already raised over £17,000 and can be sponsored at www.virginmoneygiving.com/AlSylvester.
Dean died aged 43, and Al is raising money for Prospect Hospice where his friend spent his last days.
Al, from Shrivenham near Swindon, is walking to raise funds in memory of Dean Singleton.
He has also led two expeditions to the base camp of Mount Everest and the RAF’s first ever 677 mile unsupported attempt to reach the Geographic South Pole, an experience which saw him lose his thumbs to frostbite in the minus 35 degree conditions.
Al is no stranger to the kind of physical challenge that this five-week venture poses, having previously served for over 20 years in the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, led over 15 expeditions around the world, including ascending Acongagua the highest mountain outside the Himalaya’s.
Incredibly, he is not only be taking on what anyone would see as a tough challenge, but is carry all of his own equipment for the trek on his back.
"I won’t be the first person to walk the full length of this wonderful island, and I’m sure there will be others who will be attempting the walk this summer, but what’s different about my challenge is that I will be completely unaided."
Al, who is expected to arrive in the area on Sunday, said: "Walking through Badenoch and Strathspey will give me a good opportunity to see a small part of this lovely area and I’ll hopefully get some support from the local people along the way.
Al Sylvester is marking the end of his 31-year career in the Royal Air Force with an epic journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
A retiring warrant officer on a 900-mile solo trek will pass through the strath this weekend in memory of his best friend.
