Two pals are set to shine a light on a Dumfries and Galloway landmark hill for a cause close to their heart.
Katy Brown and Lorna Hellam are embarking on 12 Big Things over the course of 2025 to raise money and awareness for charities that offer support to people contemplating suicide and relatives of people who have taken their own life.
And their first challenge is Lighting Up Criffel on Saturday, February 1 – with people encouraged to grab their torches and get involved.
Katy, from Amisfield, Dumfries, said: “There have been a few deaths related to us recently – Lorna lost her neighbour, a local fell runner died and also a colleague as well as my close childhood friend.
“It’s always been there in the back of my mind I wanted to do something for him.
“We quite like using our running – or any sport – to raise funds for a charity that means something to us.
“A couple of years ago, Lorna did an Everesting challenge, last year I did a challenge and this year we decided to come together to do something for suicide prevention and support for the families.
“We’re doing one big thing each month of the year – it could be a run, swimming or cycling. We’re not declaring what until the month comes around.
“We’re also trying to light up some hills. The first one is Lighting Up Criffel to kick off the year and we’ve a couple more for later on.”
The aim of 12 Big Things is to raise money and awareness for the charities Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS).
Katy and Lorna, who lives in Thornhill, are planning Lighting Up Criffel for February 1 – having had to move it from the original date of January 24 due to the weather.
The intention is for everyone to meet in the car park ready to start walking at 6pm, with a piper leading the way.
People only need to go as far as they want up the hill and at 7pm the pipes will play again from half way up.
At this point, everyone will turn their torches off for a minute’s silence.
A marshal will be at the top of the hill but there will be a 7.30pm cut off for making the top, at which point people will be turned round.
Although parking is available, people are asked to car share if possible.
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Katy added: “We’ve made a page on Facebook and if you look at the people interested in going it doesn’t look like many, but from the number of people who have liked and shared it looks like there’s going to be loads.
“We’re asking folk to confirm so we can get a rough idea of numbers.”
For more information about Lighting Up Criffel – and to confirm if you plan to take part – visit www.facebook.com/events/2124211704700362
To donate and for more information, visit www.givewheel.com/fundraising/5927/12-big-things/