A Castle Douglas mum is aiming to complete a charity challenge on Hogmanay.
Tuesday is the final day of Anna Cameron’s quest to cover 1946 miles since September 26 in aid of Marie Curie.
She took on the challenge in memory of her dad Stuart Beck, who passed away in the summer, as he was a great lover of the Galloway outdoors.
Anna said: “We got a lot of support from Marie Curie towards the end. They did some overnight stays which were really helpful. They knew how to support him and it meant my mum could support him overnight, which was really helpful.
“It meant he could stay at home which was what he wanted to do.
“He loved being outside, enjoying the forests and delights of Galloway, so an outdoor challenge to raise money for a charity that did so much to help him in his final days, seems quite fitting.”
“My lovely Dad recently passed away from cancer. He loved being outside, enjoying the forests and delights of Galloway, so an outdoor challenge to raise money for a charity that did so much to help him in his final days, seems quite fitting.”
Anna set out to cycle, run, hike, walk, swim and kayak 1946 miles – or 3132km – as Stuart, who also lived in Castle Douglas, was born in 1946.
He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and while this was successfully treated, he developed secondary cancer in his brain in 2023 and passed away the following year.
Anna, who works at Glasgow University’s Crichton campus, had hoped to cover 30km a day but has been thwarted by bouts of illness for her and five-year-old daughter Ceitlin and a broken bike chain.
On Friday she still had 330 kilometres to do and was hoping to reach the finish line on Hogmanay.
She said: “It’s been hard, I’ve been doing a lot of cycling in the dark after work but I usually get good company from friends who join me.
“I’ve been doing as many combinations of different kinds of rides.
“It’s mostly been road cycling – I’ve been commuting to work, I’ve been cycling lots of places my dad really enjoyed going to like to Kirkcudbright, mountainbiking, gravel riding and a cyclocross race in Castle Douglas.
“Ceitlin has been involved. She’s come on dog walks, and walks around his favourite forest at Doak Woods at Laurieston.
“The final one will be something she can join in, a loop round the park or something like that.”
Anna has so far raised more than £2,000, which has gone straight to Marie Curie’s team in Dumfries.
To sponsor her, visit www.justgiving.com/page/anna-beck-1727127546876