A FORMER RAF medic is just weeks away from taking on the challenge of her life – inspired by the wounded service personnel she helped to treat.
Dianne McLeish has been spotted walking through rain, hail and shine around Moray for the past year as she builds herself up for a challenging trek in South Africa that she hopes will raise well in excess of £6000 for Help for Heroes – a charity for which she is the voluntary area coordinator.
Earlier this year Diane featured on insideMoray when she explained the challenge she faced and why she was taking it on when most would be easing down at just ahead of their 60th birthday.
“I wanted to set myself one real, major test before I turn 60 in February – and after looking at all the available options I went for the South Africa Wilderness Challenge,” she said.
Now the time for that visit to Table Mountain is almost upon her, with flights booked for a November 6 departure.
Diane said: “For over a year now people have seen me walking, come rain or shine, around the Burghead and Moray area and wondering what I have been up to.
“It has all been about preparing for this challenge through terrain that could not be more different from Moray – hot desert and dense tropical bush, and all at altitude for ten hours each day.”
Diane’s cause is being helped by the local Burghead Post Office who have a collection tin on display for locals who might wish to make a donation to the charity. She said: “People have been pretty wonderful but it is now only two weeks to go – it is all very exciting but the aim is to raise as much as possible for Help for Heroes.”
Diane has already breached her initial £6k target – but is hoping for much more, anyone wishing to donate can also do so online at her charity appeal page.