ENRANTS are being invited to register for one of Scotland’s toughest marathons, which tackles the fearsome devil’s staircase through the heart of Glencoe and into the foothills of Ben Nevis, to help raise tens of thousands of pounds for vulnerable children and disadvantaged youths in Scotland.
Sponsored by first direct, The Glencoe Marathon Gathering takes place on the 6th October 2013.
The 26-mile trail run will cover some of the roughest terrain and most breath-taking countryside in Scotland. This year’s event, which will see the introduction of a half-Marathon and 10K, is also being televised for BBC 2’s monthly sports programme, The Adventure Show, hosted by Deziree Wilson.
The off-road 26-mile route snakes through the pass of Glencoe, before climbing 500 metres up the Devil’s Staircase. From the eastern edge of the Aonach Eagach Ridge trail runners will be able to take in spectacular views of Buachaille Etive Mor (the great herdsman) before dropping back to sea level at Kinlochleven. Climbing up through the Mamores, the route undulates before descending to the base of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak.
Glencoe Marathon organisers, WildFox Events, whose outdoor challenges to date have helped raise over £20million for charity, expect this year’s running event to raise £100,000 for its nominated charity partners: the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Scottish youth charity, Project Northern Lights.
Monies raised for the NSPCC will go towards its ChildLine Schools Service, which uses specially trained volunteers to talk to primary school children about abuse, giving them the skills to protect themselves and show where to go to for help if they need it.
By 2016, it is hoped that volunteers will speak to every primary school child and continue visiting each school every two years – reaching 1.8 million children across the UK.
Twenty per cent of the funds raised will go towards Project Northern Lights, which provides opportunities that build the skills, experience and confidence of 15-25 year-olds living in disadvantaged communities in Scotland, to help them get back into education, training and employment.
Tracy Garrad, head of first direct, said: “Over the years first direct employees and customers have taken part in a wide variety of events and raised an incredible amount of money for charities.
“This year, we are extremely proud and very excited to be the official sponsors of the Glencoe Marathon Gathering. I’ve personally signed up to participate in the 10k event and I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge.
“I hope to be joined by some first direct employees and customers and together we can help fundraise for two very worthwhile charities, ChildLine and Project Northern Lights.”
NSPCC corporate partnerships manager Scotland, Tricia Imrie, said: “The Glencoe Marathon is set to be a really exciting event, and we’re delighted to be involved.
“It’ll certainly be a challenge, but as people can choose to run a full or half marathon, or compete over 10k, we hope lots of people will sign up to help raise vital funds for the NSPCC.”
Project Northern Lights chief executive, Gina Wallace. said: “This is such a fantastic event to be involved in – a real challenge to the participants in a breathtaking part of the country. It will raise crucial funds that will make a huge difference to the lives of the young people we work with, enabling us to challenge them to change their futures.”
Registration for The Glencoe Marathon Gathering is now open. For further information about the event please call 01567 820 409 or register online by visiting www.glencoemarathon.co.uk
Ends
Issued on behalf of WildFox Events by Jen Nash, Panache Communications t. 07971 466 220 e. jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About WildFox Events Ltd
WildFox Events Ltd is based in Kindrochit in Loch Tay, Scotland. The business was founded in 1999 and to date has helped raise over £20million for charities, both here in the UK and in the world’s poorest countries. In 2012, over 2,000 people participated in 6 adventure challenges covering a distance of around 120,000 miles and raising £1million for charities including: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Alzheimer Scotland, Asthma UK, Maggie’s, Mary’s WildFox challenges in Meals, Mercy Corps, NSPCC, Oxfam, Prince’s Scotland Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and Water Aid.
WildFox Events Programme of Events
22 June 2013, Martin Currie Rob Roy Challenge
13 July 2013, Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon
21 September 2013, The Great Pentlands Push
6 October 2013, The Glencoe Marathon
3/4 May 2014, Maggie’s Monster Bike & Hike
June 2014, Oxfam Trailtrekker
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Panache Communications. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Jen Nash
Phone: 07971466220
Email: jen@panachecommunications.co.uk
Website: http://www.panachecommunications.co.uk
