Teamwork
I stopped along the way to speak to Caledonian Challenge veteran Sandy
�Eyecandy� Borland. Sandy has completed the Challenge twice, took part as a
marshal last year, and this year, he�s been supporting team Dunn
Four.
He said: �I�ve seen it all� checkpoint four is
where people are starting to unravel because they�re so tired. There are
blisters and few toenails dropping off, it�s not pretty. The best part of
the walk though is seeing the look on people�s faces as they cross the
finish line. It�s magic.�
As team support, Sandy
makes sure his walkers have everything they need to complete the walk. That
varies from dry clothes, to plasters, and of course food. They also monitor
how there walkers are, if someone feels confused or cold, it could be a
sign of something more serious, so the health of the walkers is of
paramount importance to the support teams.
Sheila is
one of Sandy�s walkers, when I spoke to her, she�d walked the first two
sections of the walk. She said: �This is the fourth time I�ve done the
Caledonian Challenge. You have to dig deep to complete it, but it gives you
a great sense of achievement.
�The best bit is the
checkpoints, it�s the only time I get waited on hand and foot. The only
thing is, Sandy makes me walk 12 miles first!�
Dunn
Four is an RBS team. RBS are the title sponsor of the event, and nearly a
third of the teams that take part, are made up off RBS employees. Paula
Wightman has been involved with the Challenge, through RBS, for four years.
She helped to spread the word about RBS� involvement with the walk to
employees. She said: �There were so many people who wanted to take part in
the Challenge from RBS in London, but it can be expensive for whole teams
to travel up, so the bank started to offer sponsorship to allow people to
take part.
�We are inundated with requests for
teams,� she continued. �Now we also recruit staff to volunteer at the
event.�
One such volunteer is Melanie Simons who
travelled up from London to take part. She said: �This is my first time as
a volunteer, and my first time in the Highlands. Even when you�re driving
on the main road in a 4x4, the surrounding look hard and rugged. It�s an
impressive landscape.�
Okay, I�m off to the final
stop to greet the walkers as they come over the finish line� Crack open the
champagne!
Posted by Nadine on 15/06/08 08:36
