Rural charity RSABI has thanked members of the rural community for helping it raise more than £55,000 from its annual Great Glen Challenge.
The charity, which provides support to those who worked or have worked the land, was given £55,150 as a result of fundraising efforts from competitors taking part in the challenge.
Launched in 2012, the Great Glen Challenge requires competitors to cycle, kayak, walk and run the 46km along the Great Glen from Fort Augustus to Fort William.
This year’s contest was strongly supported with a record entry of 27 teams from across a wide spectrum of agricultural and land-based businesses and organisations.
The winning team, titled Team Teal, was a group from Davidson and Robertson comprising Fiona Mackay, Kirsten Tait, Murray Philp, Derek Bathgate and Martin Hall.
Second place went to a team from the Laurence Gould Partnership comprising Kevin Stewart, Andrew Macdonald, Ian Thomson, Martin Rennie and Stephen Melville.
Third place went to the Soil Essentials team of Kenny Waring, Doug Woods, Alison Easson, Catriona McLean and Peter Beattie.
RSABI said the challenge, which is sponsored by law firm Ledingham Chalmers, has raised more than £200,000 in recent years. It said funds raised from this year’s challenge will be used to help the charity provide emotional, practical and financial support to individuals and their families across the Scottish farming, crofting and growing sectors.
RSABI development director Paul Tinson, who organises the challenge, said: “We are once again delighted with the total amount raised, and my colleagues and I thank all those who took part in Great Glen Challenge 2017, our headline sponsors, Ledingham Chalmers, solicitors, our partner stewards and the hundreds of people who donated so generously up and down the country to our teams this year.
“In recent years we have experienced a surge in demand for our services, at an average cost to the charity of £500,000 each year, so a flagship event such as this, as well as our growing supporter scheme, become ever more important to us.”
Ledingham Chalmers partner Jim Drysdale said the firm was delighted to support an event which raises essential funds to help many people across Scotland.
He said: “The role of RSABI has arguably never been more important as the industry works together to create a sustainable future in the face of continuing uncertainty, as well as challenging market and weather conditions.”
RSABI urged anyone in the farming or crofter community in need of help, support or advice to contact its free and confidential helpline on 0300 111 4166.