Tag: Cairngorms

Edinburgh boxers march for children’s charity

Eleven Edinburgh boxers have punched above their weight by raising nearly £3,000 for a local children’s charity.

The mixed gender group from Lochend Boxing Club, aged 26 to 60, completed a hike up the Lairig Ghru, the best-known hill pass in Scotland, in just over nine hours.

The 19-mile walk climbs to an altitude of 835 metres and crosses through the central Cairngorms, one of the wildest areas in the country.

Following the club’s hike up Ben Nevis last year, Saturday’s mammoth fundraising effort was led by local mum Ciara O’Connor, whose son attends The Yard.   

The Yard works with children and young people aged 0-25 with Additional Support Needs through adventure play sessions in Edinburgh, Dundee and Kirkcaldy. 

The service offers creative and inclusive play experiences in a well-supported environment, alongside wraparound support for the whole family, with a varied programme of drop-in, respite and transition youth clubs, early years, specialist sessions with schools, family play sessions, plus inclusive play and disability training.

Ciara said: “I’ve been boxing since I moved to Edinburgh just over 10 years ago and, from my very first visit, found Lochend Boxing Club so supportive and welcoming. It’s a club for everyone, enjoyed by people of all fitness levels and from all walks of life.

“They work around their members, adjusting training where required and making it work for you. I even boxed when I was pregnant and formed many great friendships through the club.

“The Yard, in some ways, is the same. It’s such a welcoming, non-judgemental space and has made a huge difference to my son and our family, so we wanted to give back as a club. 

“The training has been a huge commitment, with some very early morning training walks in all weather across the Pentlands, various Munros and the West Highland Way. However, everyone has rallied around and supported us.

“Their response is a testament to the values of the club, that constant support and encouragement. I’m very grateful to everyone who donated and know the money will make a huge difference to The Yard, and the many other families who have come to rely on their kindness.”

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of The Yard, added, “We love nothing more than receiving positive feedback from our families, so when they choose to support our charity through fundraising, it’s really special, and we’re exceptionally grateful. 

“The Yard is all about community, support and enjoying life’s adventures and Ciara and her fellow boxers encapsulate these values.  Thanks again for supporting us, Lochend Boxing Club!”

To donate to Ciara and the club’s campaign, please visit:

 https://www.justgiving.com/page/ciara-oconnor-1723449713057

Blind veterans take to the hills for life-changing winter survival course

A group of inspirational Sight Scotland Veterans recently ventured up the Cairngorms to participate in a life-changing Winter Skills Course.

The veterans, who were understandably apprehensive and nervous before the climb, enjoyed a great couple of days learning about winter navigation, mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, using ice axes and crampons, moving on snow and ice, ice axe arrests and what to do in an emergency.

It was an experience they never imagined they could do because of their visual impairment and gave them a huge boost in confidence and independence.

The veterans who attended were Iain Young, 60 from East Linton, an RAF veteran coping with stargardt syndrome; Ian Hunter, 65 from Tullibody, an Army veteran who lost central vision due to three brain surgeries and an optical stroke; and Steven Williams, 41 from Edinburgh, a veteran who sustained his vision impairment during active service. Steven is also a Centre Officer at the charity’s Linburn Activity Centre in West Lothian.

Iain Young explains: “We all travelled up with quite a lot of trepidation as we were unsure whether we were capable of doing the course; both physically and due to our visual impairments.

“When we arrived at the lodge we were fitted with our equipment and were talked through what to expect the following day; I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to do it as I have long covid. But I was reassured to give it a go.

“I am just so happy that I did, as the whole experience was amazing. Our instructors were great, we practically received personal instruction and were taken through everything we were doing on the hill step by step, constantly being reassured we would only do what we could manage.

“Then before you knew it, we were at the top, which was incredible, it was only when we came down we actually realised how high up we were, we were all buzzing. It really did show us all what we can do, it was a real sense of achievement.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat, it was ten times better than I could ever have imagined. It gave us all such a massive confidence boost, not just while we were there but in everyday life, as it showed us to believe in ourselves more.

“So we went worrying about what we couldn’t do and came back feeling reinvigorated, it was so good for us mentally.

“It helped us to almost relive what it was like to be in the forces again; pushing each other, camaraderie and using skills we all thought we had forgotten. I always think confidence breeds competence, I can’t thank the organisers enough.”

Ian Hunter commented: “This was the first night I have spent away from my wife since 2017, so it was massive in terms of my confidence and independence. I really was not sure about doing the course, but I was encouraged to push myself, so I went for it.

“It gave me a real sense of what I can do, and I already have another walk planned to Hadrian’s Wall.

“It does show you that in life you shouldn’t be worried about what you can’t do, even with a visual impairment, we should all be encouraged to push ourselves, try new things and most importantly to continue doing the things that we love.”

Steven Williams adds: “I went as veteran with a visual impairment, not as a worker for the charity, and like the other two I was apprehensive about it even though I am a bit younger.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but we all just got so much out of it. The first day we were climbing the hill, using ice axes, crampons and learning new techniques to walk in deep snow, the second day was more about navigating and learning about our surroundings, we all had experiences of this during our time in the Armed Forces and Able2Adventure were constantly adding challenges to push us on, it really was a very inspirational and empowering trip.”

The course was organised by Able2Adventure, a company which strongly believes in the long-term benefits of participation in outdoor activities on physical and mental health.

Through adventurous activities disabled people can strengthen muscles/ build balance and co-ordination, develop social networks and increase confidence and independence.

Gemma Hendry, from Able2Adventure, who was lead instructor on the course, said she found the veterans both resilient and inspiring. She says: “I’m thrilled that our visitors from Sight Scotland Veterans gained so much from the Winter Skills Course.

“They were incredibly organized, resilient, and eager to dive into activities. As we progressed, their belief and confidence visibly grew, and by the end, they were effectively managing themselves.

“They even taught me new techniques, like using reference points and navigating with a clock face, which we will now use with other groups. It was also great to see how much they wanted to have fun; by the end, we were all gleefully sliding down snowy hills like children!”

For more information please visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk or call our support line on 0800 035 6409.