Each year at Bravehearts Boxing Gym, we want to encourage more people to step out of their comfort zone and sign up to our fitness challenges and what better way to encourage this than to raise money for 3 charities that are close to our hearts (Read below to find out a bit more about them). Everyone has different fitness levels so we have a variety of events planned which allow everyone to take part and challenge themselves to set new fitness goals.

Our biggest event is a Triathlon with a difference called the 'Scotsathlon' which will take place on Saturday 2nd July. The challenge involves a 1.5 mile swim across Loch Lomond, an 8 mile hike/run up and down Ben Lomond and a 60 mile cycle around the Loch to finish. It is quite a challenge and many people who sign up have zero experience in open water swimming never mind a triathlon with these distances and a mountain thrown in for good measure.

Other events include:

110 mile cycle and camp from Bravehearts to the most southerly point on the Scottish Mainland, Mull of Galloway lighthouse - Saturday 30th April

Fight night at our very own outdoor boxing ring (the only one of it's kind) - Saturday 28th May

300 mile cycle from Bravehearts to Durness Beach (2 days cycling - 2 days camping) - 28th-31st July

Bravehearts Iron Distance Triathlon - Saturday 13th August

Ben Nevis (various route options) - Saturday 17th September

Tinto (x6) Marathon / (x3) Half Marathon - Saturday 3rd December

Plus more to be announced!

Eilidh's Rainbow

This is a small local charity set up by our close friends in memory of their daughter, Eilidh Dempsey, who passed away unexpectedly in 2016, aged 5. The charities aim is to offer much needed support to grieving families when a child dies. They would like to purchase a place where bereaved parents and siblings can retreat to and spend unhurried time as they feel this is something they would have benefited from in the time following Eilidh's death. They will also start up bereavement support groups and offer life saving first response awareness training to parents and carers. They will be involved in the support team for the Scotsathlon including a safety boat and aid stations which we are extremely grateful for. Huge respect to Debbie and Craig for setting up this fantastic charity, we will continue to support them in any way we can.

Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity

Last year we visited the Glasgow Children's Hospital where the charity team showed us around and explained how donations are used to improve the experiences of children who are admitted to the hospital. From the second you walk in the front entrance, it is clear that they have done everything possible to make this a child friendly environment. There is a teddy hospital where children can learn about medical equipment that they might encounter, murals painted all over the hospital and even a real life cinema that plays all the latest movies, with room for beds and wheelchairs so that no one misses out. They even have clown doctors!

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team

As a team we spend lots of time in the Scottish Mountains and around the Glencoe area in general. Thank goodness we have never required the services of Mountain Rescue but the fact remains that many people do need their help each year. The teams are made up of volunteers who drop everything when that call comes in and do everything they can to bring people back home safe to their families. Even although the team members are unpaid, costs for the service in the Glencoe area alone runs into tens of thousands of pounds each year so they rely heavily on public donations. As a gym, we encourage people to get outdoors and if their fitness allows, join us hillwalking. The recent surge in popularity of outdoor pursuits is great for health and fitness but it will inevitably lead to more pressure on Mountain Rescue Services so we'd like to give something back and show our support for the amazing job they do.