My name is Ben Liddall. You may remember me through the 100 day running challenge I did at the start of 2021 to raise funds for the MyNamesDoddie campaign.
This was a great experience for me and while I have lots of plans to do more things like this again in the future I would like to pass the torch to my friend Ronan Ratcliffe who is taking on an absolutely astounding challenge, beginning at the end of May. Here is a brief description from Ronan about what he is doing.
It is really incredible what he aims to do:
“Hi there, my name is Ronan, and I’m aiming to walk 140 miles across Scotland at the start of June to raise money for the UK mental health charity ‘Samaritans.’
“The walk will take me from Fort William in the Highlands, across to Glendoll Forest, just north of Dundee. It consists of approximately 40 Munroes (any mountain in Scotland over 3,000ft) including Ben Nevis, and roughly 45,000 feet of elevation.
“I aim to start the walk on the 30th of May and be finished by the 6th or 7th of June. Along the way I will be wild camping about 50% of the time, and staying in Bothies (an unlocked shelter to be used free of charge in mountainous areas) the other half of the time. The route I am taking is almost completely remote, only passing over 2 public roads the whole time.
“If you would like to read into the backstory of why I am doing this, please read through my GoFundMe page below:
“However, if not, I would really appreciate it if you could donate some money to it, or even just share the fundraiser around. It is my goal to raise £2500 and hopefully with your help I can do that.”
Maggie Tookey, a 71 year old volunteer with Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA), is currently in Ukraine.
She has just returned to Lviv, having teamed up with Norwegian and Ukrainian volunteers to make a long and difficult trip to Kremenchuk and Kharkiv in north east Ukraine.
In Kharkiv, they delivered thyroxin & wound dressings to a hospital in the west of the city; they were lucky as the heavy shelling at that time was in the north of the city. In Kremenchuk, they brought food to traumatised displaced people from Kharkiv.
Maggie says it is the stories of the elderly that she finds particularly distressing – just as she did when helping elderly victims of the Syrian conflict in recent years: “forced not only to witness death taking place in front of them but also knowing that the final years of their lives may never be spent in their own homes again”.
This is her story …
THE FIRST WEEK IN UKRAINE BEGINNING 24th APRIL 2022
So it’s one week since arriving in Ukraine to begin EDA’s third session in this embattled but extremely resiliant country.
The resistance goes on and just about the whole world is here trying to support that resistance. Still there is the belief from all the displaced Ukranians I meet through our EDA distribution programme, that Ukraine simply can’t lose this war. We can only hope that they’re right.
I’m now in Kremenchuk in Poltava region – central/eastern Ukraine and probably considered the first reasonably safe place reachable from the hell of Kharkiv, around 200km away. We arrived here – ‘we’ being Ira, our constant translator and ‘fixer’ and Knut, our big gentle Norwegian driver with his rusty but trusty Sprinter van, late on Friday night. The journey was long and took us 2 days of fairly non stop driving.
The van is like a Tardis. It just seems to keep holding more and more valuable aid so we just kept filling it until finally Knut said enough! It was overloaded but he thought it would be OK and it was. The last item we loaded as a special request was 150 civilian body bags to help with the numbers of dead in the badly hit city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. It was a sobering request but we had the space so we were able to help – why wouldn’t we? The bags would be taken onto Kharkiv from Kremenchuk.
The first portion of the journey was fine – fast on good roads and enough fuel stations to keep the tank topped up even though we were rationed to 20 litres.
The second part of the journey which was around a 1000km in total because of diversions for damaged roads etc, was far more challenging – some of it was ‘off road’ and the rest was over the most pot holed surfaces I’ve ever experienced.
It was so bad that we kept losing various fixtures and fittings off the van – the jarring was endless and exhausting but the main problem was the scarcity of diesel. We begged and pleaded but the little fuel available was reserved for emergency and military vehicles and not even to humble volunteer bringers of aid.
We had bought more fuel containers so could carry around 80 litres of diesel but these were the reserve. We needed to keep the tank reasonably full. On one occasion we were allowed up to the front of the queue but one time we sneaked in through the ‘no entry’ route on the advice of a local and came to a pump facing the queue. Smiling broadly and constantly and looking dim works wonders as does Ira our translator who probably sheltered us from much Ukranian swearing.
Kremenchuk is a small city of around 75,000 but 22,000 Internally Displaced people have arrived in the city since the beginning of this month. It’s a typical Soviet style place – mostly large blocks of flats and 70% of its population speak Russian. Most of the displaced have fled from Kharkiv and as ever, there are some terrible stories.
The distribution has taken two different pathways. We were supplying the increasing number of IDP shelters springing up out of necessity around the city – the pressure on the Municipality is great so every aid shipment is important.
We were able to unload into a big store room here and sort out what is needed for each shelter working with the local volunteer coordinator as our guide.
The second pathway involved working with the local priest who helps many individual families in his ‘parish’, listing their needs and passing these on to anyone who might be able to help. We were royally treated by the priest and his family – they were a delight. We were hugely over fed! Once again the admiration for these volunteers and the support they try to bring to their communities is admirable.
Food shortages cause problems for all in Ukraine and although these local volunteers are not enduring constant rocket attacks like Kharkiv and other places, the deprivations of war are suffered by all.
Once again the terrible stories are told when we visit the IDP’s in the shelters. Most here are from Kharkiv, some from Donetsk and the Donbas.
They are all distressing stories but perhaps none more so than by the elderly who are forced not only to witness death take place in front of them but know that the final years of their lives may never be spent in their own homes again. I find these the hardest to deal with.
One lady of 85, Varanella, from a rural village near Luhanske, came face to face with a Russian soldier when he entered her house as she was trying to escape.
He pointed his gun at her chest ready to shoot – terrified she turned and ran into the toilet but he opened fire on her fleeing back -somehow he missed and she bolted the door but he continued firing – the bullets only partially penetrated the metal door and thick walls – she cowered in terror and finally he seemed to get bored and went off to some other house but not before trashing the inside of hers.
She stayed there until dark and then managed to get help escaping from the village to a safer town and onto Kremenchuk. She cried constantly through the telling of this story, still reliving the horror of what happened. Many of her elderly neighbours were not so lucky. She was severely traumatised.
So now she has safety, warmth, support, companionship, and food – what she doesn’t have is her beloved home and this is the greatest wish for all those I met in Kremenchuk. We spent 4 days around the shelters and individual families distributing a lot of aid but mostly we talked.
I seemed to represent some symbol of hope to them but I felt a fraud. In the end what can I do – listen and hug!
UPDATE: THURSDAY 5th MAY
EDA is just back late last night from Kharkiv very close to the Russian border and a very dangerous place to be. There is constant shelling in some parts of the city and many have died there.
I was part of a larger food and medical aid delivery by the Ukraine Guardian Angels group – all volunteers just like us.
EDA was delivering much needed Thyroxin and eye medication and wound dressings. We were pleased to complete the job safely.
EDA and its team had also just completed a 4 day distribution of urgent food and hygiene goods in the small city of Kremenchuk, in Central/eastern Ukraine.
The city and its fantastic local Ukrainian teams of volunteers are now under huge pressure to offer shelter to over 22,000 displaced and traumatised people who have fled Kharkiv and other Eastern cities being flattened by constant Russian shelling.
Edinburgh Direct Aid does what it can but it can only do what the funding allows. We need delivery transport, food and medical supplies. These are the basics. If we get help with these we can DELIVER. We are now back in Lviv taking a breather!
The Edinburgh Direct Aid Ukraine Relief Fund, which supports Maggie’s work, can be found at:
Alice Gully and Kate Mactaggart, business women and mothers, both aged 46 from the Scottish Borders have been selected out of thousands of applicants to participate in the August 2022 Mongol Derby race.
Gully and Mactaggart (AKA Doddie’5 Dazzlers) are racing to raise £30,000 in aid of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, set up by fellow Scot, Doddie Weir OBE. The Foundation is committed to helping improve the lives of those affected by Motor Neuron Disease.
With just 40 selected jockeys riding, this gruelling 1000km course takes up to 10 days and it is regarded as the longest and toughest horse race in the world. It is genuinely dangerous with a high chance of injury and typically only half the jockeys complete the race.
This is the greatest equine adventure in the world – high passes, huge valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland, dunes and of course open steppe.
The jockeys live with the herders at night, eat local food (a diet of mutton and offal) and rely on their wits and skill during the day. Weather extremes are expected in the Mongol Derby with temperatures ranging from freezing to 38⁰C and anything from horizontal rain to scorching sun.
To prepare for this epic race, Alice and Kate are both currently undergoing an intense training and exercise regime, which includes cycling 100 miles and rowing 21,000 meters per week, as well as a weekly 5k run, 20,000 steps per day and over 7hrs in the saddle each week.
A huge commitment to undertake in addition to their businesses and family life, with 6 children between them!
In 1224 Genghis Khan set up the world’s first long-distance horse messenger system, which connected half of the planet.
Using a massive network of horse stations (‘morin urtuus’ in Mongolian) his hardy messengers could gallop from Kharkhorin to the Caspian Sea in a number of days.
Nearly 800 years later, for 10 days each August, the Mongol Derby recreates this legendary system, utilising a network of urtuus at 40km intervals along the entire 1000km course.
Young detectives have dusted off their maps and magnifying glasses for a 10k treasure hunt around Edinburgh’s city centre.
Veteran Fraser Rowand, from Granton, joined Poppyscotland to launch its first ever Poppy Quest, with his wife Susan, and children Rebecca, 11, Lucy, 10, and George, 8,
They are challenging people of all ages to test their observation skills and ingenuity – as well as their legs – and rediscover their city, while supporting Scotland’s Armed Forces community.
The event takes place on Saturday, June 11th and is open to individuals, groups and families. Walkers will be provided with a map and a series of questions to navigate a route around the city.
There will also be a special competition for teams of cadets, with a trophy for the fastest time with all questions answered correctly.
All funds raised will go to support Poppyscotland’s work, providing advice and support to former and current servicemen and women and their families.
Mr Rowand, a former Lance Corporal in the Scots Guards, served two tours of Afghanistan, and now works in Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, in Edinburgh. He said: “The services Poppyscotland provides are really vital. Many veterans find it hard to adjust to ‘Civvy Street’, so we need to make sure support is there when they need it.
“We’re really looking forward to Poppy Quest – it’s a great way to spend time together and see Edinburgh in a new light.”
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “Poppy Quest Edinburgh is set to be a fantastic day out and a chance to rediscover this great city. We’re encouraging families, groups and individuals of all ages to challenge themselves, stretching their minds and legs and finding hidden gems along the way.
“Starting in beautiful Princes Street Gardens, you can take your time, enjoy the scenery and architecture, and perhaps even enjoy a picnic en-route. Participants are welcome to bring their four-legged friends as well.
“Intrepid teams of cadets can also join the race against the clock to complete the course with all questions answered correctly.
“All funds raised will go to support our life-changing work with Scotland’s Armed Forces community. As we emerge from the pandemic, veterans and their families need support more than ever, whether that’s with housing, employment, or mental or physical health.
“No one who has served their country should be disadvantaged, and we want to make sure Poppyscotland is always there when they need us.”
Registration costs are £16 for adults and £5 for 13-18 year olds, while children aged 12 and under are free. All participants will receive a Poppy Quest medal, t-shirt, map and quiz, as well as a unique pin badge for those who raise over £100. For more information visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
Amy and Sara are running the Edinburgh Half Marathon next month and Ryan is doing the full 26.2 miles.
They are running this for FetLor.
Everything they raise will go towards our Summer Programme. Last year we put on a 5 week programme that included 24 trips to lots of different activities including Fox Lake, Bridge 8 and North Berwick.
All our trips are free and can only happen thanks to the support of people like Ryan, Sara and Amy. If you can, please sponsor them.
● Social Bite’s Break the Cycle campaign returns bigger and better with plans to scale up vital projects providing jobs, homes and food for homeless people
● Hoy and Kellock are backing the campaign and will cycle the 60-mile route from Glasgow to Edinburgh with fellow fundraising cyclists
● The Scottish sporting stars are backing the “Break the Cycle” campaign to raise £1m, and will cycle 60-mile route from Glasgow to Edinburgh with fellow riders to raise money for the cause
● This year’s event builds on the success of 2021, with new 20-mile and 3-mile routes available to ensure everyone can get involved no matter your cycling experience
Sir Chris Hoy and Al Kellock will be putting their helmets on and donning lycra as Social Bite once again launches its Break the Cycle campaign to raise £1m to fund vital projects to end homelessness.
Following a successful first event last year, it’s back again for 2022 and invites participants to make the 60-mile cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh with the goal of raising significant funds to support its movement to end homelessness.
This year also sees the introduction of new 20-mile and 3-mile cycle routes, to ensure there’s opportunities for all ages and abilities to get involved – from experienced cyclists, through to families looking to have a great day out while doing their bit for the charitable cause.
The Break the Cycle event will take place on Sunday 4th September, with Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy, and Glasgow Warriors Managing Director and former Scotland rugby captain, Al Kellock leading the charge and riding from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
Participants can sign up to “Team Hoy” and set off on the 60-mile cycle with Sir Chris Hoy from the Velodrome, where participants will be warmed-up by a legendary fitness guru.
Rugby fans can sign up to “Team Tom Smith” captained by Al Kellock, and joined by rugby stars of yesteryear, to set off from Glasgow Warrior’s Scotstoun stadium and ride across the city to join an expected 1,000 participants in the cycling challenge to Edinburgh.
Ten per cent of all fundraising from this team will be donated to a trust that has been set up by the Scottish Rugby community in aid of Tom Smith’s family, after the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop tragically passed away in April 2022.
The route will finish at the home of Scottish Rugby, BT Murrayfield Stadium, where fundraisers, along with their friends and families, will enjoy performances from a range of local acts as well as refreshments from some of the country’s top food and drinks establishments.
As well as the physical event in September, there’s the opportunity to show your support by taking on your own 60-mile challenges to raise money, as the virtual challenges can be designed to suit each individual, using any mode or method.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “Break the Cycle is back this year, bigger and better and thrilled to have Sir Chris and Al on board to once again help us raise much-needed funds to break the cycle of homelessness.
“The funds raised at Break the Cycle will help us support people across the country who have experienced homelessness, whether that’s through supporting people to find a safe place to call home, empowering people to get a job, or by providing free, fresh food to people who are homeless or in food poverty.”
“With our new routes this year, the support of our famous faces getting involved, and what promises to be a real festival feel at the finish line at BT Murrayfield, we’re in for a really exciting event. Sign up to join this year’s Break the Cycle to raise vital funds to end homelessness.”
Sir Chris Hoy said: “I’ve been a proud supporter of Social Bite for a number of years now, from the very first sleep-out event in 2016 through to the first Break the Cycle event last year.
“The work they do is inspiring and has such a positive impact on so many people’s lives so it’s always great to help out in whatever way I can.”
“I had great fun in 2021 cycling with all the other fundraisers and can’t wait to return again this September for what promises to be an even bigger and better event for a great cause.”
Al Kellock said: “I’m thrilled that myself and Glasgow Warriors are supporting Social Bite with its Break the Cycle campaign which does so much to help support people who need it most.
“I would encourage Scottish Rugby fans to join me in setting off from Scotstoun Stadium all the way to BT Murrayfield and I’m really looking forward toraising as much money as possible for the cause as well as supporting the creation of a trust for Tom Smith’s family after his tragic passing.”
PEOPLE in Edinburgh are being urged to get on their bikes for Cancer Research UK and raise money for a wheelie great cause.
People of all ages and abilities – from seasoned cyclists to recent converts – are being encouraged to sign up now for the Cycle 300 challenge to help the charity continue its life-saving mission.
Taking part needn’t feel like an uphill struggle when participants can choose how, when and where to clock up 300 miles during June – whether it’s 10 miles every day, 75 miles every weekend or all in one go.
Cycling to work, exploring the countryside and taking part in spin classes can all add up, along with ditching the car for a bike to pop to the shops. And with exercise bikes growing in popularity, it’s easy for homeworkers to get involved too.
The challenge can be completed indoors, outdoors, solo or as part of a team.
Not only will taking part help to raise vital funds, but there is also the added benefit of getting on a bike to keep fit and healthy. Depending on weight and effort, cyclists could burn roughly between 450 to 750 calories per hour.
Moderate exercise such as cycling can help build stamina and keep a healthy body weight, which reduces the risk of a range of diseases including cancer.
In Scotland, around 33,200 people are diagnosed with cancer each year*. But, thanks to research, more people than ever across the UK are surviving for 10 years or more.
As Cancer Research UK celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is paying tribute to its supporters for the part they have played in this progress.
Victoria Steven, the charity’s spokesperson for Scotland, said: “One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime**. But all of us can play a part to help beat it.
“For the past 20 years, the incredible generosity and commitment of people in Scotland has helped Cancer Research UK make discoveries that have saved countless lives and which benefit millions of people around the world. But we have so much more to do.
“By taking part in Cycle 300 this June, commuters, weekend enthusiasts or gym bunnies alike can help the charity’s scientists go the distance and unlock new and better ways to beat the disease. We’ve come so far. And we will go much further. Together we will beat cancer.”
Last year, Cancer Research UK spent nearly £30 million in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
Victoria added: “Every day we see the benefits of research we’ve previously funded being realised, helping people live longer and healthier lives. That’s why we need cyclists across the country to help us keep investing in science today to deliver the treatments of tomorrow.”
Join the Cycle 300 challenge and receive a free fundraising pack at cruk.org/cycle300.
Johnathan takes on Scotland’s West Highland Way to raise vital funds for sick and injured pets
Nine-year-old Johnathan Westacott from North Devon has walked an incredible 96 miles to raise vital funds for vet charity PDSA.
Following many months of intense training, Johnathan walked for a total of 59 hours, covering over 310,000 steps over eight days across the wild landscapes of Scotland, raising over £1,500 for PDSA, who provide vital veterinary care to sick and injured pets across the UK.
The animal-obsessed fundraiser took on the challenge alongside his family and their family dogs Fudge and Coco, sharing regular video updates on their Facebook page throughout the gruelling hike.
Johnathan’s mum, Jennifer Westacott (37) said: “We are so proud of Johnathan and his achievement – it’s an incredible distance and seeing him finish the West Highland Way walk in aid of his favourite charity PDSA has made me burst with pride.
“Myself and my husband, Andrew, walked alongside him, together with his nanny and grandad, so we could all support one another to get through the miles. It wasn’t easy but together we made it so we could be there for Jonathan and we all kept each other going despite the very tired legs and blisters!
“Johnathan has always loved animals, especially dogs, and he decided to take on the challenge and to raise funds for vet charity PDSA.
“He was inspired to support PDSA after watching the daily live feeds from Max Out in the Lakes Facebook page who share daily updates during their walks with three Spaniels, Max, Paddy and Harry in the Lake District.
“They have held many fundraising events for PDSA, so Johnathan wanted to follow in their footsteps and do the same!”
Ruth Lister from PDSA said: “Johnathan’s challenge is incredibly inspiring and we are very grateful to Johnathan and the whole family for their support.
“The funds raised through their amazing fundraising challenge means that we are able to continue our life-saving work, caring for pets whose owners have nowhere else to turn.
“We rely on the generosity of the pet-loving public who donate to make sure we can be there for a pet when they need us most. It’s thanks to inspiring fundraisers, such as Johnathan and his family, that we’re able to continue our life-saving work.”
So far Johnathan’s JustGiving page has raised over £1,500.
Further donations to support his fundraiser for PDSA can be made here:
No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
Alzheimer Scotland fundraising week with strapline: ‘Now you’re talking’
Coffee morning-style events set for May 30 – June 5 to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week
Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!
New all-in-one fundraising platform with packs and resources at blether.alzscot.org goes live
Every penny raised stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to ensure nobody faces dementia alone
Alzheimer Scotland are calling on the people of Edinburgh to pop the kettle on and get talking about dementia.
Ahead of Dementia Awareness Week, which kicks off next month, Alzheimer Scotland has launched its Tea & Blether campaign.
Communities across Scotland are encouraged to host a coffee morning-style event in a bid to raise funds and awareness of dementia.
And it’s simple: Just pick a date, a location and gather up some friendly faces to have a chat over a cuppa – and a slice or two of cake if you fancy!
Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centres will also run their own events to coincide with those happening across the country.
Whether at work, in school, at home or elsewhere in your community, every brew poured and slice served goes a long way to support people living with dementia.
Alzheimer Scotland promises that every penny raised will stay in Scotland as they strive to “ensure nobody faces dementia alone”.
Kirsty Stewart, Executive Lead for Stakeholder Engagement, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is delighted to launch Tea & Blether as a new national fundraising campaign.
“Some of our local teams across Scotland have been delivering Tea & Blether-style coffee mornings for quite a few years and we know our supporters enjoy taking part in this style of event.
“The successful ingredient is, of course, connection, and we hope that by talking about dementia, we are able to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and bring communities together to support people with dementia and their carers.
“Every penny raised for Alzheimer Scotland stays in Scotland and, as a charity, we are continually amazed and grateful for our supporters’ efforts to, ultimately, help us ensure nobody faces dementia alone.”
To get started, first register online for free at blether.alzscot.org to get your fundraising pack that ensures you’ll host a Tea & Blether worth talking about.
Participants are invited to host their Tea & Blether coffee morning during Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from Monday 30 May to Friday 5 June.
However, if you wish to enjoy your Tea & Blether another time, you are more than welcome to choose another date in June.
Whenever you decide to host your Tea & Blether and wherever it takes place, getting together to chat is great for everyone.
Fundraising is key to the campaign, but it’s important to complement this with awareness-raising as we continue to reduce stigma around dementia and educate ourselves on the positive impact that social interaction has on our wellbeing and brain.
To support this, fundraising packs include conversation flash cards to help raise awareness during people’s Tea & Blethers.
All that’s left to do now is sign up and start planning!
Join in the conversation online by posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram with your favourite mug and mention @AlzScot with the hashtag #MugShot.
Bridgerton and Emmerdale star Simon Lennon has become the 3,000th person to pledge their support to this year’s Walk for Autism campaign, which kicks off next week.
The Scouser will join participants from up and down the country to take part in the event, which is in its fifth year, with Autism Initiatives hoping it will be the biggest one yet, with more than £200,000 in sponsorship being raised so far.
Those involved will walk 10,000 steps per day for eight days from March 26 up until World Autism Acceptance Day on April 2 to raise funds that go towards providing vital support and community projects for autistic people and their loved ones.
Last year, the campaign collectively saw an impressive 194 million steps walked and raised more than £621,000, making it the most successful year to date.
Simon said: “I’m so happy to be involved in Walk for Autism again – it’s a really fantastic initiative that not only provides essential funds for projects but also promotes autism acceptance and understanding more widely.”
Walkers can sign up on the charity’s website and begin their fundraising straight away, with Walk for Autism providing helpful tips on some fun and varied ways to raise money.
Head of Enterprise at Autism Initiatives Jon Gordon said: “We are delighted to reach 3,000 signups for our fifth annual Walk for Autism campaign and would like to thank everyone – including Simon – for doing their bit.
“Every year continues to show us just how amazing people are and how willing they are to support others; despite how tough the last few years has been for everyone.
“Passing these milestones is really important, as the money that is raised funds innovative specialist autism projects across the UK and Ireland.”
Autism affects more than 700,000 people in the UK and Ireland each year. Walk for Autism is a campaign led by charity Autism Initiatives Group who have been working to improve the lives of autistic people and their families since 1972.
