Two Dallas women take on 100km Cairngorm to Coast Duathlon for highland charity Mikeysline
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TWO inspirational local ladies will tackle a huge 100km Duathalon challenge for charity Mikeysline later this month.
Friends Bev MacDonald and Gil Nicol, both from Dallas, will take on the Cairngorm to Coast Duathlon on May 28 to raise funds for the local mental health charity.
The Duathlon begins at Cairngorm ski centre and continues along the Dava Way, with the friends walking 30km from Cairngorm to Grantown and E-Biking the remaining 70km to the finish line in Lossiemouth.
The pair are keen fitness enthusiasts and are both looking forward to completing the 100km journey.
Mrs MacDonald said: "I'm really excited to do the Duathlon but I am a wee bit nervous about it now.
"I hope we've done enough walking and cycling and I hope the weathers decent, but we're up for the challenge and won't give in no matter how tough."
The two women, who work for Moray in different roles, were inspired to sign up for the hike and bike challenge because they wanted to raise money for Mikeysline.
Mrs Nicol said: "Mikeysline and their work is really important to me. I work with young people and have four kids myself, so I know how important it is for young people to have someone to speak to - the work they do is so vital and can be lifesaving.
"We all have mental health struggles sometimes and I think at various stages in life our mental health can become more important, I think for young people mental illness seems a lot more prevalent just now and that's a terrifying prospect.
"It's so important for young people to know that there is help out there and to contact them if they need to and to hopefully never think that ending their life is only solution it isn't - its a permanent solution for temporary problem and it's just so important that they know there's people there they can speak to."
She added: "I think challenging yourself is important, I believe it's good for mental health and raising money for Mikeysline is so important. It's good for the soul to test your limits - and I'm really looking forward to the end."
Anyone wishing to contribute to Bev and Gil's fundraiser for Mikeysline can donate via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gillian-nicol2
