Blairgowrie’s Ailidh Richardson has thanked supporters after raising more than £1500 for charity after undertaking a gruelling test of endurance.
The 27 year-old recently completed the Tiree Ultramarathon in aid of Alzheimer’s Scotland.
A final year dental student at the University of Dundee, Ailidh had never contested a marathon before so opting to run 35 miles around the rugged Tiree coast proved to be a tough test.
Poignantly, big-hearted Ailidh explained she chose to raise vital funds for the good cause as her grandparents have recently been diagnosed with the condition.
Ailidh said: “I wanted to complete this challenge as I hadn’t done anything like this before and, with the encouragement of my brother, I signed-up in October last year.
“I began training in December. The furthest I had ran before starting to train was 15km – so I knew attempting the ultramarathon was going to be a challenge!
“But I set my mind to the challenge ahead and committed to raising money for Alzheimer’s Scotland.
“I wanted to raise awareness, as well as money, to help others like my grandparents, who have recently been diagnosed.
“This meant I was all the more determined to be able to complete this.”
Held in September, the course sees competitors follow the coastline around the entire island.
The terrain includes firm sandy beaches, gravel tracks, grassy dunes, sheep tracks, a few bogs, some rocky outcrops and a smattering of hills.
Ailidh, who previously studied oral health sciences at the University of Edinburgh having left school in 2015, added: “Tiree is known as the ‘Land below the waves’ and this rang true as the terrain was challenging.
“The course included several beaches, multiple hills and I always seemed to be running into the wind.
“This made completing this ultramarathon more difficult, but also more rewarding! I was so pleased to have completed this and maybe in a few months, once I’ve recovered, I will plan another challenge to continue to support Alzheimer’s Scotland.
“My initial target was to raise £1000, so to raise £1500 was great and I’d like to thank everyone who donated.”