A devoted husband is to lead a poignant 220-mile charity challenge across some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery in memory of his late wife.
In an event tagged the Dunnottar to Dunvegan Daunder, Richard Thompson of Brechin will be joined by family and friends in raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support as a thank you for the care their staff gave to his wife Lesley during a lengthy battle against the disease.
Liverpool-born Lesley passed away on October 1, eight years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She bore the illness with amazing fortitude and grace, as many with cancer do, and as a family we received amazing support and assistance from Macmillan Cancer Support throughout her illness,” said her daughter Jenny Collins, an RAF flight lieutenant.
“In the weeks after her death we felt that we could not let her death go unmarked, nor could we simply send a thank you letter to Macmillan.”
The family’s desire to do something for the charity gave rise to a fundraising trek centred on Lesley and Richard’s love of the history of Scotland and linking two very special places in their lives.
“Lesley could trace her family routes to the MacLeods of Skye. Dunvegan Castle was a place she loved, and which we visited as a family shortly before her death,” said Richard, 59, who works as a tenancy support officer with Angus Council.
“We chose to start the walk at Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven, which is where I have my first recollections of visiting Scotland at the age of 10.”
The DD Daunder, as the family have called it, will start on Sunday September 8 and will take Richard and his two sons-in-law Steve Collins and Gerry McAllister to Dunvegan Castle by September 21.
“The route is split into a series of day walks of around 13 to 15 miles a day, some a bit more challenging than others, but all are achievable for most people,” said Richard.
“Steve’s a member of the RAF orienteering team and both he and Gerry are more experienced hillwalkers than I am, but we are also aiming to have 10-12 walkers/supporters on the route each day.”
He said the Dunecht and MacLeod estates had been supportive of the idea by allowing the walk to start and finish on their properties, taking in the Angus glens, Braemar, Kingussie, Glen Shiel and Skye.
The family have set up a number of ways in which people can support the DD Daunder, including a Macmillan Tribute Fund Page at macmillan.tributefunds.com, a Just Giving page at justgiving.com/DDDaunder and through texting LJTH58 to 70070 to donate £5.
“We would also like to invite people to take part in all or some of the days and they can contact us at dddaunder@hotmail.com or on 07813 815 944, and we will supply route details for them to select their preferred route,” said Richard.
“Finally, we are also looking for assistance in the form of daily provisions, to prepare meals for the walkers, and a camper van or support vehicle.
“Unfortunately I also lost my father and one of my brother’s to cancer,” he added.
“Macmillan weren’t around when dad was ill, but they helped my brother and with Lesley, the support she received from the Macmillan centre at Stracathro in particular was so important.”