The ups-and-downs of an epic mountain challenge for charity have been immortalised in a new book raising money for The ARCHIE Foundation.
In 2015 a group of medical staff from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and friends undertook The Archie Mountain Challenge to conquer all 130 Scottish mountains stretching above 1000 metres in just 16 days.
The challenge raised £33,000 for The ARCHIE Foundation, the official charity of Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells.
Led by consultant anaesthetist and outdoor enthusiast Dr Paul Fettes, the group of 57 fearless fundraisers completed a relay over and between every peak.
They did this on foot, on bikes and, in some cases, by kayak, carrying a cuddly rabbit baton every step of the way.
They covered over 1,700km (1,050 miles) – the equivalent of the distance from Edinburgh to Madrid, and ascended more that 85,000 metres, roughly 10 times the height of Everest.
The book tells the story of this epic outdoor adventure and details the individual journeys of each of the runners in their own words.
It features beautiful images of Scotland’s stunning scenery as well as maps of the route and social media posts from the challenge.
By naming all mountains over 1,000 metres Archies, the team have also created a new classification for Scotland’s highest mountains.
Readers will receive a free A3 map of all the Archies with their copy, so that they can “bag” them too, albeit at their own pace.
Dr Fettes said: “If Sir High Munro were alive today, I don’t think he would come up with the Munros, I think he would come up with the Archies.
“This book explains why, and tells the story of our amazing journey. It should appeal to anyone with a love of the outdoors, or a spirit of adventure. I’m hoping we will raise a lot more money for ARCHIE with this book.”
The 224-page hardback book includes a foreword by The ARCHIE Foundation patron Mark Beaumont who is expected to complete his own amazing journey – cycling around the world in 80 days – this week.
The Archies receives its official launch on Thursday September 21 at the University of Dundee’s Dalhousie Building at 7pm.
Dr Fettes will give a talk and show some video footage, with a brief question adn answer sessions afterwards.
Tickets are free, available from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-archies-book-launch-tickets-36998861591
The book, which costs £19.99, can be purchased online from www.archie.org and from good bookshops.
All profits from the sale of the book will go to The ARCHIE Foundation’s appeal to raise £2 million for the twin surgical suite project at Tayside Children’s Hospital.
