Inverness friends complete charity sledding challenge
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Francesca Marchetti and David Phillips spent last week in the cold and snow of Norway and Sweden, raising £8903 for the Highland Hospice.
Miss Marchetti has worked for the hospice for five years, and wanted to give back to them before she leaves her role next week.
Best friend David signed up with her, as they had previously completed the Great Glen canoe challenge in 2019 together.
Beginning in Norway, they spent the first day of their trip testing out the equipment and getting used to the dogs followed by five days of intense sledding and camping in tents in the wilderness.
Fran said the worst part for her was the cold.
“It was a rollercoaster. I wouldn’t say it was great every moment or bad every moment but it’s been a rollercoaster and a lot tougher than I thought temperature-wise,” she said.
“I felt like my main and only struggle was really just dealing with the temperatures. It’s not even the cold itself, but the problem was you didn’t get a break from the cold at all, it was constant because we were eating and sleeping outside.
“We were wild camping at -20 degrees and that was the worst bit for me.”
Even their supplies like lip balm and toothpaste were frozen.
However, it was not all bad and as a self-confessed dog lover, Fran loved spending time with her four huskies: “The best part was the dogs and bonding with them and looking after them.”
David, who lives in Gollanfield, added: “It was an indescribable week in the most brutal but beautiful place.”
Despite lots of travel interruptions arriving home with missed flights and late trains, the pair are home safe and happy to be back in the warm.
