A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale has struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, less than 12 hours after an initial 7.8 magnitude tremor hit in the early hours on Monday 6th February. As of the 12th February, officials and medics said 29,605 people had died in Turkey and 3,574 in Syria, bringing the confirmed total to 33,179. The UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said he expected the death toll to at least double. With 17 million people in the affected area, and catastrophic infrastructure collapse, financial aid to directly provide for those in need is vital. 

Any possible donations toward aiding Turkey and its inhabitants would be of great service. I hope my run can inspire people to donate, or at the very least raise the conversation to the highest of priorities.

In terms of why this particular route:

My late Grandma and the rest of the Esslemont clan originate from the small Scottish town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Unfortunately, she passed very soon after my birth and I never truly got to know the wonderful woman she was. As a student at The University of Edinburgh, I want to take the chance whilst in the vicinity to get in touch with that part of my heritage. The route will begin in this quaint town, and follow a fairly straightforward path to end at the ruins of Esslemont castle, conveniently 26.4 miles away (just over a marathon).