A RAF duo who completed a gruelling 66-mile endurance challenge from the Cairngorms to the Moray coast have praised the event — despite being the only two to complete the entire route.
Rebecca Scott and Emma Zweig, both from RAF Lossiemouth’s XV(R) Squadron, were the only two out of 18 entrants to endure all 66 miles.
The team started early on Saturday morning with a 33-mile trek from their starting point in the Cairngorms to the grounds of Ballindalloch Castle.
Competitors then jumped on their bikes for the second leg of their mission to reach the Lossiemouth base.
However, 16 of the group dropped out of the challenge on the way – mainly due to blisters and sore feet.
Ms Scott and Ms Zweig finally crossed the finish line at 2.01am on Sunday
Ms Scott said: “We were both delighted to see that finishing line – but what a wonderful event this is.
“It has also allowed us to raise further funds towards the XV Squadron’s effort to raise a total of £15,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund during our 100th anniversary year.”
The challenge was organised by the Lossiemouth branch of the RAF Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) and Outfit Moray, which promotes outdoor sporting activities.
Team RAFBF Lossiemouth chairman Karen Cox said: “While Rebecca and Emma completed the course, there were others who finished part of the course, having been ‘swept up’ during the walk and transported part of the way to Ballindalloch before boarding their bikes for the final leg.”
It is hoped the event alone will raise £5,000 for the RAFBF — the RAF’s charity aimed at supporting personnel, their families and veterans.
Dozens of volunteers manned checkpoints along the route while a full support team were on hand at Ballindalloch as walkers mounted bikes for the remaining 33-mile leg to RAF Lossiemouth.
Stewart Evans, from Outfit Moray, said: “I would hope that this is just the start for this event – Scotland is a great place to hold endurance events like this and it is similar to one we are running in July that will take in the entire Moray Way.
“This is an event that could help Moray, which is a fantastic area that sometimes is a bit of a hidden treasure. We need to get more people coming here and seeing what we have to offer and events such as this can only help that.”