My Charity Page: The Race Across Scotland

In October 2015, I was gearing up to run my first ever marathon. However, just a few weeks prior, Luke Holland was tragically shot and killed in Berlin. As I write this, I still shake my head in disbelief. Little did I know then that in April 2018, I would complete my first marathon, running alongside two friends in Luke’s honour. We decided not only to commemorate Luke’s memory but also to raise funds for a charity called ‘Murdered Abroad’.

In March 2018, we were invited to an event organised by ‘Murdered Abroad’. The directors, all of whom had lost someone at the hands of another while in a foreign country, shared their stories. I will never forget this day, I can’t even put into words what it is like to be sat in a room full of individuals who have gone through what they have. It profoundly impacted me, altering my lifestyle and mindset. From that moment on, I committed to raising as much money as possible for this incredible charity, a charity that spends every penny raised trying to help others going through the same pain that they have.

This Year’s Challenge: A 220-Mile Foot Race Across Scotland

This year, I am undertaking the challenge of a 220-mile foot race across Scotland, which has to be completed in under 100 hours, has 7800 metres of elevation along the way. It is an immensely difficult race, with only 1 in 4 participants finishing. I am under no illusion about the challenges it poses, but I am determined to succeed. Luke’s dad, Phil, will be supporting me along the way. His presence at each checkpoint will hopefully spur me on during my darkest moments. No matter how much pain I endure, it will never compare to the daily anguish Phil experiences.

I am running not just to test my limits, but to honour Luke and support ‘Murdered Abroad’. This charity provides crucial support to families who have faced unimaginable tragedies far from home.

Your support means the world to me, and it means even more to those who benefit from the charity’s work.

Thank you for your generosity and encouragement.