CHALLENGING SPORT FOR CHARITY
     

HIGHLAND CROSS

  • A recognised Scottish Charity : SCO 26679

  • An entirely voluntary organisation

  • A top fundraising athletic event in the Highlands

  • On a Saturday around Midsummer's Day in June every year

  • Funding medical / health / care causes in the North of Scotland

  • Helping those suffering ill health and disability of all kinds

THE "SPORT FOR ALL" OCCASION

  • Staging costs of about £15,000 currently are covered mainly by team registration fees and by event sponsors obtained by the organisers.

  • The first event in 1983 was restricted to teams from the local emergency services. This, the Midsummer Marathon, ran from Kintail to Inverness and fielded 41 teams (123).

  • Only 4 people have completed every one; John Talbot from Kyle and 3 members of the local Scottish Ambulance Service - Graham Forbes, David Rose and Eric Lawther.

  • The fastest time: 3 hours, 13 minutes and 31 seconds by Keith Murray, a New Zealand athlete.

  • The slowest time: probably 10 hours 25 minutes in 2001 - the lady had 2 punctures!

HIGHLAND CROSS

  • Pace setter for sport in charity fundraising in the region.

  • Since 1983 the Highland sporting / charity calendar of events now includes:

                    The Great Wilderness Challenge

                    The Corrieyarick Challenge

                    The Nairnshire Challenge

                    The Loch Ness Marathon

HUGE HELPING HAND TO CHARITIES

  • £2.3 million gifted to local charities in 25 years.

FUNDRAISING BY TEAMS - EVERY PENNY COUNTS!

  • Each team is asked to raise a minimum of £300 per team.

  • The team AVERAGE over the past decade - £600 per team.

  • The highest ever team total was £23,000 raised by a team from the City in London in 1994.

  • The TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM of all time is the AFFRIC RATS led by TIMOTHY LAING from Perthshire and featuring local solicitor JONATHAN WOTHERSPOON. Since 1988 they have raised over £150,000.

  • £173,800 raised in the 25th year (2007) is the highest total so far.

  • Every penny banked by the teams goes directly to the nominated charities - nothing is deducted for administration, running costs or expenses.

ANNUAL DONATIONS - 3 MAIN CATEGORIES (BUILDINGS - EQUIPMENT - TRANSPORT)

BUILDINGS - some examples are:-

  • Highland Hospice - Morvich Ward

  • Raigmore Hospital - Highland Child Development Centre

  • Inverness Hospital Radio - New Studio

  • Hydrotherapy Pools (5) - Drummond School; Ladysbridge Hospital, Banff; Nairn, Lochaber and the Dingwall Puffin Pool.

  • L'Arche, Inverness - Residential Home

  • Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre for the Highlands

EQUIPMENT - some practical gifts for:-

  • Tape Service for the Blind

  • The "Heart Start" campaign for Defibrillators

  • The Highland Scanner

  • Breathe Easy Highland

  • Crossroads Schemes, Highland

  • Osteoporosis Service in the Highlands

TRANSPORT - Putting "wheels on charities"

Highland Cross has donated over 30 vehicles, mainly adapted mini-buses. All are in active service for:-

  • British Red Cross

  • Cheshire House

  • Chest Heart and Stoke, Highland

  • Highland Disability Sport

  • Highland Dyslexia Association

  • Highland Group Riding for the Disabled

  • Lochaber Birchwood

  • M.S. Groups (2)

  • NESS DOC

  • Seaforth House

  • Shopmobility

  • SNAP (Special Needs Action Project)

HIGHLAND CROSS MISCELLANY:

ON TELEVISION

  • 2 x 1 hour long programmes on Grampian Television in 1989 and 1991. Videoed and sent abroad to expats everywhere!

IN PRINT

  • Numerous magazine and newspaper articles

  • Ralph's Far North - a book by a Caithness author Ralph McGregor veteran of many a Highland Cross.  Also by the same author a novel centred on a Highland Cross in the far future!

IN SPIRIT

  • Retailing only in France as finely blended Scotch Whisky "Highland Cross".   Tres bien!

WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHLAND CROSS

  • "Never Again" - a fervent expression by a first time entrant who returns time after time after time…..!

  • "The Yellow Brick Road" - a 4-5 mile stretch of the forestry road on the south side of Loch Affric which seems interminable. 

  • "Over-subscribed" - the annual INVITATION LIST for limited team places.

OUR LOCAL HEROES

What some entrants have called “50 miles of midsummer magic” is due entirely to the multi-talented army of dedicated volunteers and resourceful organisations in the Safety and Welfare network on the day.  They have brought “Highland Hospitality” and good humoured service to a new height.  Appreciative teams, happy organisers and very grateful charities are their reward.