A Thousand Thank Yous

I’m pretty sure when Iain and myself sat down for a coffee in Edinburgh’s West End little over a year ago we were both sincere in our aspirations for Two Fat Laddies, but a little playful too.

We knew that humour was a key by-product of what we were about to do. Laughter, we hoped, would help see us through. People taking the piss out of us, well, it was something we were braced for.

What we didn’t expect, or at least, what I failed to anticipate, was just how serious it would become. How all consuming it would be. How our moods, successes and indeed failures would affect us.

Some of it has been fun. Much of it, to be truthful. Yet it’s not all been easy. As I’m sure Iain will attest, we’ve had ups and downs, highs and lows. We never expected it would be a breeze but then, that doesn’t lessen the fact.

There’s nothing like a exercise session on a freezing muddy field to sour the soul, a failed weight goal to break the spirit, or minor, ridiculously avoidable injury to make you wonder just what it’s all about.

But today, today for me has made it all worthwhile.

Because today’s the day my fundraising total for Scottish Mountain Rescue hit its £1000 target.

With Gift Aid, that becomes a magnificent £1210.90

And I don’t think I could be prouder.

Not of me, not of Iain. But of the small army of people – friends, colleagues and those who were strangers – who decided for whatever reasons to dig deep and donate to the cause.

Some donated more than once, others probably more than they should. The fact that not just friends, but people I’ve barely or in some cases never met did too, really does astound me.

So one more time, thank you everyone who gave. You’ve made it a humbling and inspiring experience. Most of all, you’ve each made it seem all so very worthwhile.

TWO FAT LADDIES ROLL OF HONOUR – THESE FABULOUS PEOPLE RAISED £1000 FOR SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE

Neil McIntosh

Mary McIntosh

Denise Taylor

Robert Mitchell

Margaret Macleod

Keith & Karen Storrier

Christine Lavelle

Amanda MacMillan

Michael MacLeod

Cara Sulieman

Ruth MacLeod

Laura Piper

Christina Cran

Christine McIntosh

David Milne

Matt Roper

David Low

Joyce Dalgleish

William Anderson

Angela Hughes

Aileen MacArthur

Elizabeth Melvin

Tracey Graham

Angela Paterson

Gerry Cassidy

Norma Dewar

Kirsten Blackie

Richard Mooney

David Rattray

Lyndon Coppin

John McIntosh

Stewart Argo

Marjorie Anderson

Lisa McDonald

Jan Oni-Orisan

Jean Milne

Donations for Scottish Mountain Rescue close today. But for the second year of Two Fat Laddies I’ve adopted St Columba’s Hospice as my chosen charity, for reasons I’ll be blogging about some more along the way.