Press Release
Jim and Ewan's Big Trek
Jim Leask, who works for the council's Bridges Project and Ewan Anderson of Shetland Recreational Trust are nearly at the half way point of their 887 mile trek around the coastline of Shetland. They are walking around every inhabited island and hope to raise £22,000 for the Archie Foundation, SOFT and the Fire Fighters Charity.
They have already covered the 113 miles around seven of the smaller, more difficult to get to islands on their days off and are now tackling the remaining 774 miles and six islands by each taking a month off work.
Jim and Ewan have been friends for 19 years and were on the lookout for a new adventure.
“We’d seriously spoken about finding a real’challenge’ to undertake together for the last 7 or 8 years” said Jim. “We had discussed many different options. Mount Kilimanjaro, Base Camp at Everest and John O’Groats to Lands End were a few of the possibilities that were pondered upon….usually over after a few beers, but when we discussed walking the coastline of Shetland idea, we quickly knew that this was a challenge we couldn’t pass up”.
Averaging 25 miles a day and using a GPS to log exactly where they have walked, the pair have managed to make it home most nights so far, or have been staying with people in the area. They may have to camp overnight in some of the more inaccessible sections. All along the route they have been helped by their support team of family and friends.
Jim said “We are nearing the half way point and by the end of the week will hopefully be making good headway into the Northmavine/Delting section. It’s been really good so far. There have been a few little injuries, but nothing too bad!”
You can follow Jim and Ewan’s progress and donate to their charities at: http://www.jimandewan.com/
