Following last years huge success in the grueling 24 Peaks Challenge and The Ten Tors challenge and The Three Peaks prior to that, on the 1st-4th July 2010, 25 of us from Macdonald & Company (including  few additional volunteers) will embark on the famous Caledonian Challenge in one of our most ambitious undertakings yet! This will be a stand-alone challenge undertaken by Macdonald & Company to raise money for the Elifar Foundation - our chosen company charity. The Elifar Foundation is a charity run almost entirely by volunteers. It aims to help improve the care, facilities and equipment available mainly to profoundly disabled children and young adults, whether living at home or in residential care. We support Elifar because it is so small every penny we raise makes a real difference.

This is a well recognized event and involves an epic journey that will take us through some of Scotland’s most famous, remote, rugged and stunningly beautiful landscapes. Starting at Gairlochy, the team will walk the famous Great Glen Ways and West Highland Way footpaths via Checkpoints at Fort William, Kinlochleven, Glencoe Ski Centre and Inveroran, before finishing the Challenge at Auchtertyre. The team's goal is to complete 54 miles in 24 hours (non-stop). That's two full marathons in distance and more ups and downs than two ascents of Ben Nevis - all in one go! It's tough but it is just about achievable - just ask the 13,000 previous participants who have taken part!

This is an outstanding opportunity for a number of Macdonald & Company/Prime People staff to undertake what is regarded as one of the most arduous long distance challenges in the country. The team includes:
Nina Cowell, James Stephenson, Nathan Wakelam, Victoria Evans, Jamie Williams, Alex Hendry, Kerry Rowlands, Christine Scott, Jamie Allaway, Peter Moore, Matt Terry, Charlie Holroyde, Roberta Barlow, Rhona Cloherty, Sam Jones, Carwyn Evans, David Kettle, Emily Cooper, & guest appearances from Simon Murphy, James McEwen, Andrew Cunliffe, James Miller, Kathy Ebbett & Rosie Cosh.

Please give generously to help encourage and motivate these willing volunteers to complete the challenge successfully! Please dig deep and sponsor us online.  Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us. Elifar Foundation will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

In addition our MD Peter Moore is having a Mid life Crisis! taking part in his own “Triathlon of Stupidity” this summer to raise money for Elifar.

The calendar of Stupidity:

Saturday 1^st May: Century Cycle Challenge: On Saturday 1st May 2010  I join some 250 people cycling from Nevill Holt in Leicestershire to Burnham Deepdale in Norfolk.  The distance is 105 miles!: It’s going to rain and we are heading into the wind.

Saturday 19^th June: The Norfolk Super Hero Challenge: A hideous event consisting of a one mile sea swim, 4 mile sea kayak, 38 mile bike ride and a seven mile hell run along the beach and through the muddy creeks of Norfolk!!  

Then if I make that

Friday 2^nd/3^rd July. The Caledonian Challenge: With the rest of the Macdonald/Prime People team.

Many thanks for your support.