Assistance Dogs Take the Lead at Army Trek
A trio of assistance dogs enjoyed the limelight during one of Scotland’s toughest endurance challenges.
The dogs from the ‘Bravehound’ charity met their owners at various checkpoints throughout the Army Benevolent Fund’s Cateran Yomp.
Fen, Max and Mr Chips. Credit – Ed Smith Photography.
Alasdair Bunyan, owner of Fen, from Galston in East Ayrshire; Aimee Williams, a reservist with the 6th Scots Regiment from Twechar in Dunbartonshire; and Alan McKay from Falkirk, owner of Mr Chips were all participating in the event.
Alasdair and Alan reached Gold (54 miles), while Aimee reluctantly stopped just after Silver (44 miles) following an injury. They were supported by veteran Billy Bradley from Irvine in North Ayrshire, owner of fellow Bravehound assistance dog Max. Collectively, they raised almost £2,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund.
The team joined nearly 1,000 soldiers, veterans and civilians from across the world by walking 22, 36, or 54 miles across the Perthshire countryside in 24 hours. Supported by headline sponsor Babcock, this year’s event, which fell just two days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, also coincides with the charity’s 80th anniversary.
Alasdair with Fen, Billy with Max and Aimee with Mr Chips. Credit – Ed Smith Photography.
Bravehound, based in Lennoxtown near Glasgow, provides assistance dogs and training to support veterans who have diagnosed mental health conditions. The charity is also a beneficiary of the Cateran Yomp.
Fiona MacDonald, Founder and CEO at Bravehound, explained, “Funding from the ABF has been incredibly important to the work we do at Bravehound in supporting the army veterans we are so proud to serve. It’s wonderful to see the success of the brilliant Bravehound Yomp team, who literally stepped up for an opportunity to show our support and to thank the ABF who have recently awarded Bravehound funding for the coming year. So moving to see the dogs reunited at the finishing line! Once the blisters have healed we’ll be getting in training for BRAVEHOUNDs at the Yomp 2025!”
The Army’s National Charity, the Army Benevolent Fund provides a lifetime of support to serving soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families when they are in need.
The Cateran Yomp has raised millions of pounds for the charity, with donations funding everything from wheelchair ramps for soldiers’ homes, to respite care and personal recovery plans for injured soldiers returning from the front line. In FY 23/24 alone, the charity supported around 75,000 members of the Army Family in 51 countries around the world. The youngest beneficiary was just one day old, with the eldest aged 104.
For more information, visit https://armybenevolentfund.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/cateranyomp.
ENDS