There has been a 50% increase in the number of people signing up to this year’s Cateran Yomp charity walk.
A total of 740 people are gearing up to take part in the event on June 11 and 12, compared to only 349 this time last year. Eventually 500 crossed the finish line.
Event organisers say there has been increased interest because of Yomp ambassador Micky Yule, a former soldier and paralympic powerlifter.
Despite losing both legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, Micky, 37, from Musselburgh, has gone on to win medals for powerlifting and is on target to qualify for this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Micky will be supporting and motivating yompers who will undertake more than two marathons across the Perthshire and Angus glens while raising funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and The Alliance Trust Staff Foundation.
He said: “There’s no doubt the Yomp will push you to your physical and mental limits, but there’s still time to get the training in.
“On the big day, you might suffer cramp and blisters or feel you want to jack it in and go home, but there’s less chance of that if you go prepared.”
The event will see teams of three to six starting in Blairgowrie and hiking a stunning circular route which takes them through Kirkmichael, the Spittal of Glenshee and Kirkton of Glenisla.
There is a choice of three routes 22 miles, 36.5 miles, or the full leg-sapping 54 miles around the historic Cateran Trail, to be completed within 24 hours.
Now in its sixth year, the event has raised more than £1.5 million for the Soldiers’ Charity.
Details for signing up to the Yomp can be found at www.soldierscharity.org/events/the-cateran-yomp/.