WATCH: Ex-commandant of Sandhurst and daughter embark on Highland wild swimming charity challenge to support lifeline cause close to hearts
A HIGHLAND father and daughter have embarked on a year-long wild swimming challenge in aid of charity.
Patrick and Alice Marriott, of Littleferry, will be swimming for at least 50m – the length of an Olympic sized pool – in an open source of water once a month to raise money for the Sandpiper Trust, which provides emergency equipment for rural doctors and advanced practitioners.
The two began their challenge earlier this month, swimming in Loch Fleet close to their Sutherland home. All their swims will take place in Sutherland and no wetsuits are allowed.
Sandpiper was set up by the Dixon family in 2001 following the death of their son Sandy, aged 14, in a tragic accident.
As well as a providing rural clinicians with a Sandpiper Bag packed with emergency life-saving equipment, the trust also provides responders with the technology to connect them to the Scottish Ambulance Service despatch system.
The bags are particularly important in an area like Sutherland which usually has only two ambulances on duty at any one time covering an area of more than 5000sq km.
Since it was founded, the charity has sent out more than 1250 bags, which cost around £2500 each.
The Marriotts have a link to the Dixons in that their two sons attended Loretto School in Musselburgh at the same time as one of the Dixons’ children.
Major General Marriott is the former commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, while Mrs Marriott is an advanced nurse practitioner and volunteer responder with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Alice (16) is a pupil at Loretto.
The family have set up a fundraising page on Fundrazr and more than £2700 has already been donated. The goal is £5000.
Mrs Marriott said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated. We never expected the kindness and generosity that everyone has shown.”
