149km in a month!

Tina Kemley got in touch with Cruse Scotland to share her plans to walk and cycle a total of 149km across the month of May, to raise funds that will help others who need support following the death of a loved one.

Tina would be joined by family and friends across the month as she clocked up the miles and despite many hurdles and challenges in her path, from the Scottish weather, personal committments and the physical strain of it all - the team smashed their goal and raised over £400 thanks to their efforts.

Here Tina tells us more about the experience in her own words; 

"I decided I wanted to do this challenge in order to raise money for Cruse Scotland due to losing my best friend Galen unexpectedly in 2021 who I had been best friends with since a baby. Losing Galen has been the toughest thing I have been through and without charities and organisations such as Cruse, it would have been impossible to get the courage to do something like this in honour of him. I know he would have been so proud and that is what kept me going!

Myself and my boyfriend, as well as my best friend Jen joined me on walks and cycles in Perth, Scotland (and my dog Bailey!). We walked routes such as The Hermitage in Dunkeld, Kinnoull Hill in Perth and Moncrieff Hill. Days that we could not complete these walks due to other commitments, we would instead walk or cycle extra miles the next day to ensure we were getting all of our miles in. 

The hardest part of the whole experience was feeling exhausted after work or college and then the gym, and then having to go out and complete a walk after this. I myself do not enjoy walking, but having a reason behind it and knowing we were raising money for this fantastic charity was what kept us going. 

I encourage anyone who is contemplating doing something like this to bite to the bullet and get stuck in! It is such a great feeling having completed it."

If you are inspired and would like to fundraise for Cruse Scotland by taking on a challenge - please get in touch with scott.maxwell@crusescotland.org.uk who is here to help. You could set up your own activities just like Tina did, or you could join in one of the many events taking place across the country - we may be able to even provide you with free entry! Check out our challenge event calendar here.