Over the last 30+ years BASICS Scotland, and later The Sandpiper Trust, have worked tirelessly to develop training and provide equipment to help rural clinicians deliver Pre-Hospital Emergency Care in Rural Scotland:

The Sandpiper Trust is a charity who provide emergency life-saving medical equipment within a 'Sandpiper Bag' to rural clinicians to enable pre-hospital emergency care to be provided in situations where ambulance response time is long, or where the skills of a doctor are required alongside those of ambulance paramedics. Since 2001, Sandpiper has sent out more than 1,250 bags and saved countless lives.

BASICS Scotland is a Scottish charity, dedicated to providing specialist training for doctors, nurses and paramedics in Scotland, particularly those working in remote and rural locations. This training enables them to have the skills to perform vital pre-hospital emergency care.

The Rural GP Association of Scotland (RGPAS) want to acknowledge the debt we owe these charities. As part of the committee, I have organised a 1,000km Sandpiper Relay from Stornoway to Kirkwall to raise awareness and funds for The Sandpiper Trust and RGPAS. The Sandpiper bag will be relayed by bicycle, kayak and foot by rural healthcare professionals to arrive in Orkney for the opening of the Island Games.

I will be running a marathon for my leg of this relay, from Applecross to Shieldaig, along the north western coast of Scotland. With the bag, weather and elevation this is set to be a good challenge!

Please consider donating to support these rural medicine charities and taking part in the challenge by cycling a leg or join me for part of my run: https://forms.gle/RnXQJb7aRAg6tQ7B6

Best wishes,

Jonty