Thanks for visiting my page! 

UPDATE 2nd May 2020

Unsurprisingly, one of the planned marathons has been cancelled and the other postponed until August - and even that is uncertain. I'm still training in the hope that the latter will take place and I'm also hoping to do two tough trail runs to make up for the other one. The first is Súlur vertical 18km on 1st August. As the title suggests, it is up a very big hill - and then down again. The next is the Jökulsárhlaup on 8th August. I will try to get a place in the 21km run but it sells out very quickly. Then I will run the Mývatn marathon as rescheduled on 15th August. No-one knows if any of these events will be able to take place at all but I will train in the hope that they do and that I can get a starting spot in them. 

This does not seem to be the right time to solicit for donations or to post widely about my running, giving that millions of people around the world do not have this freedom right now and millions more are facing sickness, loss of loved ones, job losses and business closures, or putting their own lives on the line as health workers and carers, so I will get on with this quietly. 

Caithness Heart Support Group and I are very thankful for your donations and encouragement. 

Take care of each other - from a safe distance!
Rachael 

I'm raising funds for Caithness Heart Support Group in memory of my dad, Rev Ronald Johnstone, who passed away from a sudden heart attack last Fall. 

Caithness Heart Support Group provides and maintains 24 hour accessible defibrillators stationed around Caithness. Of course, it's not enough just to place them around Caithness! The Group also needs funds to pay for maintenance, training and information so people know where to find them and have the confidence to use them in an emergency. You can read more about the project here: 

https://www.communityheartbeat.org.uk/caithness-heart-support-group

You can see my dad in the main photo - waiting, for quite a long time it must be said, for me to finish the Mývatn marathon in 2019. I've never tried to run two marathons in one summer so this will be a bit of a shock to the legs! I'll also post a photo of one of the defibrillators at Scotscalder Hall. If you're really unlucky, I might even post photos from my training. 

I'm paying for my own expenses: entry fees, travel, kit, recovery pies, etc., so anything you give will go straight to the Caithness Heart Support Group, minus a small processing fee for JustGiving. Remember the GIFT AID if you are a UK taxpayer! No donation is too small; it all adds up. 

You can read more about my dad, Ronnie Johnstone, here: 

https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/tributes-to-thurso-minister-who-was-a-man-of-principle-182496/

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.