Cateran Yomp Gears up for 10th Anniversary Milestone
Organisers of this year’s Cateran Yomp, a charity trek through the foothills of the Cairngorms, are gearing up for their 10th anniversary milestone.
After last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19, preparations are gathering speed for the Summer challenge, a tough, gruelling hike raising funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
Since 2010, the Cateran Yomp has raised more than £3.8 million for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity – funds which have helped thousands of veterans, serving soldiers and their families.
This year’s event, on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June 2021, will see teams of three to six people starting in Blairgowrie and walking or running a stunning circular route which takes them through Kirkmichael, the Spittal of Glenshee and Kirkton of Glenisla, with rugged, hilly terrain adding to the challenge.
Participants can sign up for the 22-mile bronze, 36-mile silver or 54-mile gold route with 1,000 Yompers, including serving soldiers and veterans, competing in 2019.
Steve Oatley, Head of National Events at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is excited to be celebrating the Yomp’s 10th anniversary in June after last year’s disappointing cancellation.
He said, “We have a full Covid-19 plan in place with the safety of our participants, staff and volunteers being the number one priority. We look forward to seeing our supporters face-to-face as they hike around the Cairngorms to raise money for the Army family.”
Steve’s positivity is echoed by Yomp 2021 Ambassador, Army veteran Andy Garthwaite. Andy, 33, was almost killed in a rocket attack in Afghanistan in 2010 and now has a bionic arm powered by his brain.
Viewing his Ambassador role as a way of repaying the Soldiers’ Charity for the amazing service he benefitted from, Andy added, “I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m fit, well, healthy and quite independent. The charity has changed my life, so I want to give something back.
“It’s going to be a great feeling getting back to some normality, and while I can’t currently do the training weekends in Northumberland I’d hoped for, I’m spending time walking around my local area to get the steps in.”
For more information, visit www.soldierscharity.org or the event’s Facebook page for more information.
ENDS