A Crieff family is set to complete an epic 450-mile relay across Scotland this week to raise money for a charity that helps vulnerable premature babies and their families.
Eight members of the Coffey clan, plus some of their partners, have been hiking, running, swimming and cycling their way from Gretna Green to John o’ Groats.
Three members of the family, Jamie (35), Andrew (33) and Emily (28), plus Emily’s boyfriend Kenny Cliffe (27), kicked off day one of the challenge on July 16 with a 102km cycle to Lesmahagow.
The team members were waved off at the start line by two very special guests who made it down from Edinburgh for the occasion: Hamish and Campbell Coffey, two twins who were born very premature to Jamie and his wife Emma (33) last June at just 27 weeks and weighing just 2lbs each.
The little lads spent their first 90 days under the care of the Simpsons Neonatal Unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where they overcame obstacle after obstacle thanks to the dedicated and skilled NHS staff who work there.
To say thank you for all the support the boys and their parents have received over the past year, the rest of the Coffey clan decided to create the Stride For Simpsons challenge to help raise funds for Simpsons Special Care Babies (SSCB) – a charity that helps the unit and the families of the babies they look after.
The incredible fundraising effort has smashed its target gaining £12,225 in donations so far.
The challenge is an epic 450-mile (725km) trek from the bottom to the top of Scotland, where various members of the Coffey family and some dedicated friends are taking on several different trials.
It includes cycling from Gretna Green to Milngavie, hiking the West Highland Way to Fort William, climbing Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK, taking on the Great Glen by swimming up Loch Lochy, running alongside Loch Ness, before cycling from Inverness to John o’ Groats – where the family will all finish with a fun run together on Thursday.
Hamish and Campbell’s dad Jamie explained why the SSCB charity means so much to the family.
He said: “When the babies were born, I couldn’t even get to see them due to COVID restrictions at the time.
“The worst part was not knowing if I’d see them at all, as they were so unwell.
“But the Simpsons baby charity helped me stay in contact throughout it all.
“They even fund a video and photo platform which meant I could see them every day online.
“It was so emotional when my parents and siblings came up with the idea of a family relay across Scotland to support the unit and so much has happened in that time. The twins are doing really well and just celebrated their first birthday.
“I can’t believe we’ve finally started – there’s no turning back now!”
Alongside a JustGiving page where people can donate money to support the challenge, the family has organised an online auction with rugby items up for grabs – including a signed British and Irish Lions shirt and a mascot experience at the upcoming Scotland v Argentina game at Murrayfield.
People can donate, bid, and find out more about the Stride for Simpsons challenge by visiting www.strideforsimpsons.com
