Beauly shinty players take on fitness challenge fundraiser during coronavirus lockdown
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Shinty players have taken on a 24-hour challenge to help maintain their fitness levels and raise cash for a community group supporting senior citizens.
Members of Beauly Shinty Club have been unable to play since early March, but in a bid to keep up their fitness levels and maintain interest in the club, coach Gregor MacCormick set a challenge.
Using an exercise tracking app he called on players, coaches, committee members and families to walk, run or cycle the equivalent distance of travelling to all the club’s away games in the Mowi National Division – 1175 miles – within a 24-hour period.
He also set an additional challenge to raise £1000 in aid of Beauly Cares.
In fact participants racked up 1721 miles and raised £3000.
“In our wildest dreams, we never expected to do so well,” Mr MacCormick said.
“We had people from across the world taking part and many people who live locally but have no direct connection with the club gave up their time and money to help the cause.
“Personally, I am bowled over and delighted that Beauly Cares gets such a deserved financial boost.
“We had numerous people running half marathons and cycling distances well over 40 miles to meet the target.
“One of our players, Kyle MacDonald, exemplified this effort by getting up at the crack of dawn to avoid the midday sun to run 14 miles and then squeezed in a 40-mile cycle in the afternoon.”
Club president David Calder said: “The club is absolutely delighted with the opportunity to put something back into our wonderful community and support the marvellous work being done by Beauly Cares during the current Covid-19 crisis.”
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