Record numbers take part in Perthshire's Cateran Yomp and raise £300,000 for soldier and veteran support

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A record number of soldiers and civilians from across the globe came together to take part in the 24-hour Cateran Yomp in Perthshire and raise £300,000 for soldier and veteran support.The 1200 participants, aged 16 to 76, travelled from as far as the US, Lebanon, Ukraine and New Zealand to walk side by side on the Cateran Trail for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.The charity is the Army’s National Charity and provides a lifetime of support to serving soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families when they are in need, minimising hardship and encouraging independence and dignity.Starting at 6am on Saturday and ending in the early hours of Sunday morning, the event challenged teams of brave souls to walk 22, 36 or 54 miles in less than 24 hours.

They enjoyed favourable weather on the 54-mile route around the foothills of the Cairngorms, with the distraction of live music, magically lit forests and fireworks.Completing silver (36 miles) in 13 hours and six minutes, this year’s ambassador was Royal Artillery Veteran Lee Harris-Hamer (31), from Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

Joining the Royal Artillery at the age of 17, Lee was deployed to Afghanistan twice and rose to the rank of Lance Bombardier.However, at the age of 24, a back injury dramatically ended his eight-year Army career.For a fit young soldier and father, the news was devastating.Lee struggled with feelings of worthlessness and developed anxiety and depression.

However, with a grant from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, he used the skills he had developed in the Army to start his own cleaning business.Lee now employs over 40 staff through White Horse Cleaning Services, providing a full suite of cleaning services for commercial premises across North Yorkshire.Reflecting