Mission to fundraise for charities close to mother’s heart

But Edinburgh fundraiser Caroline McKay will attempt to complete the equivalent of five marathons in just three days this weekend.

The 28-year-old will take on the 133-mile mission around the Isle of Mull in memory of her mother, Alice Lambert, who died aged 53 from ovarian cancer in 2005.

Alice, an accomplished marine scientist, ran a mussel farm on Mull before working for Scottish Natural Heritage. She also sat on the boards of the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Caroline, who is a fundraising manager at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and lives in Rossie Place off Easter Road, plans to be on her feet for ten hours a day during the run.

Her boyfriend James Reynolds, who works as head of media and communications for RSPB Scotland, plans to accompany Caroline for much of the way on his bike.

She has already raised £2000 for charities which were close to her mother’s heart and hopes to add at least another £1000.

She said: “I’m really excited, but a little daunted. I’m going to have walking breaks but I’m not planning on stopping for any length of time.

“My mother brought me up on Mull and she was just getting into running when she died. She was an inspiring woman – not just to me but to a lot of people.

“It’s great to be remembering my mum in this way, as she was passionate about wildlife conservation and being active.”

Charities which will benefit from the run include RSPB Scotland and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

The money raised so far has come from family and friends, while businesses on the west coast which rely on wildlife and the natural beauty of the area have also contributed. Edinburgh marathon running shop Footworks has provided specialist kit and energy supplements to help Caroline on her way.

The route, which is longer than the distance between Edinburgh and Inverness, will include a gruelling climb up Ben More and challenging off-road stretches. She plans to cover around 50 miles on Friday and Saturday before running 33 miles on Sunday.

• For more information or to sponsor Caroline, log on to www.runaroundmull.co.uk or http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runaroundmull