About us -
There are various elements to the Caledonian Challenge. We have a strong events team that endeavours to organise an enjoyable event for you whilst striving to raise money for our designated charity - Foundation Scotland. We've been succesfully doing this for 16 years now and have had over 15,000 participants who have helped us raise over £12.5 million pounds. Take a look -
1. Foundation Scotland
2. The History of the Caledonian Challenge
3. The Events Team
Foundation SCOTLAND
The Caledonian Challenge is owned by the Foundation Scotland, (formerly the Scottish Community Foundation) a registered Scottish charity. All donated funds raised from the event are managed, matched and distributed by the Foundation to strengthen the UK's most isolated communities throughout Scotland.
Thanks to the Foundation's great support, you are now able to raise money for great causes close to the course and close to your heart too.
Inspiring donors has been our passion since 1996, when we started connecting them with exceptional charities and community opportunities. Independent and self-funded, we are trusted by over 250 individuals, families, charitable trusts, companies and public bodies. We provide cost effective and tax efficient services from light touch giving to personalised grant and loannprogrammes.
We bring a fresh approach to philanthropy and make the act of giving easy and rewarding. We reach all corners of Scotland through grassroots grant making supporting a wide range of initiatives. By distributing funds to local people we can empower them to change their lives and communities for the better.
The History of the Caledonian Challenge
Since its inception in 1996, more than 15,000 people have taken on the Caledonian Challenge and together raised over £12.5 million for Scottish communities.
In 1996 Angus MacDonald O.B.E and Alex Blyth ran the London Marathon dressed in kilts. They completed the 26 mile course in a time of around 5 hours. Their success inspired them to conceive of the first ever Caledonian Challenge.
In 1997 the inital challenge was to complete 30 munros in 4 days. Just two people completed the whole course! £16,000 was raised for charity.
1998 saw the Challenge move to the West Highland way. The course covered 62 miles from Glen Nevis to Inversnaid. There were 51 participants.
The next year over £300,000 was raised by 517 Participants. The course was shortened to 52 miles, finishing at Beinglas Farm.
2002 saw the event reach a peak in terms of participants with £945,878 raised by over 1600 Participants
The event ran very successfully for the next few years peaking at an annual fundraising total of £1,257,566 raised by 1349 Participants in 2007. The same year in which RBS became our title sponsor.
In 2010 the Challenge was sponsored by Tennants which was much appreciated by all our participants at the finish line!
RBS re-joined the Caledonian Challenge in 2011 and 2012. We also helped organise their own unique event in 2011 called The RBS Great Highland Hike. This was a fantastic success and alone helped raise over £300k for charity which was in addition to over £500k raised by our own participants on the Challenge.
2012 saw participant numbers start to rise again following a few years of understandable reduction. We had over 840 people take part on the Caledonian Challenge and the Caledonian Hike. The latter a shorter form (24 miles) of the Challenge. Together they helped raise over £600,000 for The Scottish Community Foundation.
2012 was also the first year that we allowed teams to nominate an additional charity for some of their funds. This led us to donating over £50k to many grateful charities on behalf of our participants.
In 2013 we signed a sponsorship deal with Baillie Gifford Investment Managers which will see them as our Title Sponsor for the next 3 years. We also have support from our media sponsor The Scotsman Newspaper and our Outdoor Retail Sponsor for 2013 is Cotswold Outdoor.
We receive additional support from James- Morrow, Nairns Oatcakes and Tunnocks who donate a variet y of different products to support our participants with their fundraising and at the event itself.
Why not join us?
The Events Team
Fraser Lennox, Event Manager
Fraser has enjoyed diverse, challenging experiences and success in the planning and delivery of a broad spectrum of project and event management throughout the world for the past 18 years. His experience working on behalf of clients within the private, public, voluntary and government sectors, includes the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department of Education, Scottish Parliament, BBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bosch/Siemens, Microsoft and the Spanish and Malaysian Tourist Boards.
You can email him here
Darren Pike, Fundraising Executive
Darren is our Fundraising and Relationship Development Executive. Previously, Darren spent 2 years fundraising for St Columba's Hospice. A native Edinburgh boy, Darren has wandered far and wide and worn a variety of hats; St Andrews Graduate, History Teacher, Civil Servant and Children's Book Expert.
You can email him here
Kath Thomson, Sales Executive
Kath has joined us from the Membership Team at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Over her career she has worked within the leisure, hospitality & emergency services combining event organisation with sales, marketing & customer service. She is a keen outdoor enthusiast and loves being part of the Events Team.
You can email her here
SCF (Events) Ltd
Then Caledonian Challenge is organised and promoted under licence by the Foundation's wholly-owned trading subsidiary; SCF (Events) Ltd. The company is registered in Scotland and managed as a not-for-profit.