Volunteers for first aid charity Scotia Medical Group to take on Speyside marathon walk carrying a laden stretcher

VOLUNTEERS for an Elgin first aid charity will step up fundraising with a Speyside marathon walk next month – while carrying a stretcher laden with kit.

Scotia Medical Group provides free first aid training to community groups, and recently delivered first aid training to Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.

Some 16 Scotia volunteers will walk 26.2 miles of the Speyside Way on Saturday, August 21.

They will add to the challenge by taking along a basket stretcher with around 61.5kg of kit, which is equivalent to the weight of an average adult.

They aim to raise vital funds for the charity to expand its network of lifesavers and deliver free first aid training in the community.

The team will set off from Buckie to Fochabers before heading south towards Aberlour, following the Speyside Way, and finally branch off to finish at Linn Falls.

Volunteer Katie Winstanley said: "This will be a challenge for the team due to the added weight and varied terrain of the route.

"No matter what the Scottish weather throws at us we will complete the task on the day."

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