Walk around the world – complete! Update: 14.01.25
Angus and Margaret completed their personal challenge of walking 2024 miles in 2024 in the middle of December. The group of amazing supporters has walked, run, swum, cycled, skied, etc. 48,940 miles round the northern hemisphere, down to Cape Town, round the southern hemisphere (all virtually, of course!) and back to Scotland! An incredible achievement. Thank you to everyone who provided us with miles (or kms!) and who donated so generously! Congratulations to our top participants: David Hewitson (3,667 miles), Mariano Rossi (3,184) and Doug Meiklejohn (3,142miles) and everyone else who added miles to our challenge! The winner of a Tiso voucher for guessing the nearest to the final total was John Steven.
It is not too late to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-our-walk-around-the-world?qid=0b0688a43d1c95c2ae032fa7960ce7c5 Although the figure in GoFundme is low, we have, in fact, reached our target by direct donations, but please don’t that let prevent you expressing your support by adding more!
Join us in our attempt to walk around the world!
We, Angus and Margaret, Neil’s parents, both in our 70s, are aiming to walk 2024 miles (that’s 3238 km) in 2024. It will get us across the Atlantic to Newfoundland and works out at an average of 2.76 miles each, every day, (4.42km per day)!
If you would like to join us maybe we could, between us all, cross Canada* (3110m, 5005km) as well – or even the world* (15,500m, 25050km)!! Join us for a year, a month, or even just a week. Walk, cycle, ski, swim or any other self propelled activity. Record your miles/kilometres, let us know your distances, and, if you can, add a donation to https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-our-walk-around-the-world .
Download your distance activity log:
Details:
WHO: Anyone and everyone, old and young. Please participate, and please ask your friends and relations to join in, too.
WHEN: anytime between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024.
WHERE: Anywhere in the world – and please let us know in which country you are participating (home country or on holiday) – Let’s see how many countries we can cover.
HOW: We hope to walk, but may top it up with some cycling! However, ANY, self propelled exercise will do – even cycling to work or distance workouts in the gym.
HOW FAR: Starting with 2024 miles. This is the minimum distance we will cover, ourselves. 2105 miles will take us from Glasgow to St. John’s Newfoundland. A further 3110 miles and we will reach Vancouver. After that – Sapporo, Warsaw and back to Glasgow. We will need your help to get across Canada and beyond.
RECORDING: We will keep a spreadsheet, and will post updates regularly. You need to let us know your distances, in miles or kilometres, but please don’t mix them, either by email theneilmackenzietrust@dr.com , facebook https://www.facebook.com/theneilmackenzietrust Preferably weekly or monthly or Strava. https://www.strava.com/clubs/1202021/group_events/1545617 We will also put up a distance sheet, which you can download.
DONATIONS: We will be donating for EVERY mile covered. However we are looking for your imput, too. Please donate what you can to support us in our walk, and support others, and if you are walking (cycling, or anything else) – please get your friends, family, acquaintances and colleagues to sponsor you. https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-our-walk-around-the-world
WHY: We need to raise funds, like any other charity.
We gave out our first grant over seven years ago, and since then we have helped over 65 individuals or groups with outdoor skills training in Scotland and expeditions all over the world. We are privileged to be able to help, and when we see the difference that we have made to some of our recipients, we are humbled. However we cannot do it without your help! Over the last 5 years we have raised between £3,000 and £4,500 per year, an average of £3,450. We have had some individuals who have taken part in sponsored activities, one off donations, raffles, and we have supporters who donate on a regular basis. Thanks go to all of them! This year we would like to double that average, so that we can help even more people!
*distances are approximate
Can you help?
If you would like to organise an event in aid of The Neil Mackenzie Trust we would be delighted to assist if we can. Please let us know by contacting us or setting up a GoFundMe fundraiser. If you have already held an event, contact us for our bank details, or donate by PayPal
To support us without noticing – Join Easyfundraising and support us every time you buy with hundreds of retailers online. Follow instructions here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support-a-good-cause/step-1/?char=277379&invite=IR64TF&referral-campaign=c2s&utm_campaign=refCROtest
Tea towels and photographic cards for sale at https://theneilmackenzietrust.com/shop/
2021 fundraising events:
Coming up …………….
Stratherrick Gala Day 24th July – we will be there promoting the Trust and selling cards, tea towels, branded tops and other items.
Look out for othere events including talks at Glenmore Lodge, another Walk in the Woods, in November, and a new selection of items in our shop.
Health and wellbeing month, May 2021 raised £485 over a series of events.
2020 Challenges – Some of the events that helped us raise over £2020 in 2020
Due to Covid, unfortunately we were not able to hold all the events that were planned, however we are grateful to everyone who contributed so generously, and we look forward to more successful events in 2021.
Howeversome of the events/challenges that were were successful:
20ps in bottles – we collected donations over the year in 20ps in whisky bottles amounting to about £400.
Van Isle 500
On 2nd September 2020 Kate Downes & Fiona Elder will embark on a 5 day, 500km road cycle of Vancouver Island. Donate
For more information see https://theneilmackenzietrust.com/van-isle-500-2/
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Lairig Ghru
Caroline Tucker, Neil’s sister, walked the Lairig Ghru with three friends, Carol Hammond and Audrey Anthoney, both also from Strathnairn, and Sian Curley from Elphin, on 22nd July, 2018. A 19 mile walk through the Cairngorms. Further sponsership donations always welcome through the link on the right hand side of this page!
Audrey, Carol, Caroline & Sian
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Highland Gathering – July 2018
The recent campervan/motothome meet at Brin, near Inverness raised over £400 – thanks to everyone for making this such a successful gathering!
Talks: Hill Walking and Climbing through the Ages. 17th March 2018 1pm – 3pm.
Thanks to everyone who came along, and for donations and raffle prizes. We raised £300 and had a great afternoon!
GRAND RAFFLE – prizewinners
Drawn at The Neil Mackenzie Memorial Ceilidh at Summerhall, Edinburgh on 27th January, 2018.
Amazing prizes included:
Spa minibreak at Norton House Hotel, Edinburgh – Elizabeth and Norman Millichap, Cumbria
Minibreaks in Glasgow: One night at Jury’s Inn and voucher for 111 by Nico – Jenny Stewart, Croachy, near Inverness
and Inverness: 2 nights at Waterside Hotel, dinner at The Mustard Seed and boat trip by Dolphin Spirit – Jo Lewis, London
Adventure Activities from Mad Max (Quad biking and Archery for 4) – Gail Grant, Edinburgh
Nae Limits (watersports for 2) – Val Rose, Daviot
Full training/expedition grant from The Neil Mackenzie Trust (Ts & Cs apply) Magalie Castelin, Paris
Half a case of Whisky – Tim and Beth Rose, Achvraid, Inverness
Other winners: Lara Bell, Glasgow, Mackenzie, Inverness, Hilary Engwall, Wirral, Thea Lewis-Yates, Esher, Gina Pelham, Somerset, Eva Craig, Inverarnie and Simon and Fiona Lillico.
We would like to thank everyone who has donated such amazing prizes for their generosity!
The Neil Mackenzie Memorial Ceilidh
was held at Summerhall, Edinburgh on 27th January, 2018 with The Dance Bandits
Burns themed food was available by Gannet & Guga, East Market Street, Ednburgh
The event was a great success and raised a massive £1,718!
Many thanks to everyone who came along and to all our helpers, and especially to Katherine Eden Green for organising the event.
2017 Bell’s Bothy Challenge
fun to donate, fun to participate, fun to benefit!
Over £5,000 was raised through the bothy Challenge. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
Our first Fun, fundraising ceilidh day was held on Saturday 9th April 2016, at Farr Hall, near Inverness. We raised an amazing £3,715. For more details: https://theneilmackenzietrust.wordpress.com/fundraising-day-9th-april/
The Neil Mackenzie Trust 