Inverness medic to cycle from Glasgow to Highland capital to raise money for Highland Heartbeat Centre and Special Care Baby Unit at Raigmore Hospital
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An Inverness medic is to cycle from Glasgow to the Highland capital in one day to raise funds for two specialist centres at Raigmore Hospital.
Lesley-Anne Robertson (37) and her brother James (33) will undertake the epic challenge in aid of the Highland Heartbeat Centre and the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
The determined pair have already raised just under £2400 to be split between the two care hubs at the hospital.
Lesley-Anne was the lead cardiac physio at the heartbeat centre and has signed herself up to the 164mile trek with two aims.
The brother and sister hope that funds can be used to update gym equipment at the cardiac centre and provide extra incubators and essentials for parents at the baby unit.
They will set off from Milngavie near Glasgow off road via the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way.
They hope to do the challenge on July 23 and complete it within 24 hours with the finish line being set at Inverness Castle.
Lesley-Anne said: “I’ve just actually finished up at the Highland Heartbeat Centre.
“I was the lead cardiac physio for NHS Highland.
“Obviously we get our staffing funded and we get the essential equipment.
“Our aim to get to people back to fitness and back to work and just support people both physically and emotionally from having a cardiac event.
“And a lot of the equipment that we use, things like gym equipment – we would love to have – but it’s not funded by the NHS.
“All the equipment comes from fundraising.”
The other department set to receive funds from the cycle has a personal connection.
Both her own child and James’s two sons have benefited from facilities at the SCBU.
Lesley-Anne said: “My brother, him and his wife, and me as well but not in Inverness, have benefited from SCBU.
“My brother’s two children were both born prematurely so they were in SCBU for 10 days to two weeks.
“Again it’s a centre where all the essentials are paid for but the extras like clothing and support for the family who are staying – these are things that are not necessarily funded through the NHS.
“So again it’s about giving back to these centres and giving them that extra boost.”
A Facebook page called Robertson’s relentless ride has been set up alongside the online JustGiving fundraiser to give updates during the ride.
A Facebook page has been set up alongside the online JustGiving fundraiser where the pair hope to give updates during the ride.
Lesley-Anne said: “It's a through the night ride.
“James has been into cycling for years and years. He got me into cycling.
“That's how it all came about.
“I'd always wanted to do the West Highland Way. Then we thought it's only another 60 miles or so.
“It kind of just grew arms and legs and we thought why not do it for charity.
“Let's do something positive.”
