A hospice chief executive from Strathaven is taking on the ultimate challenge of climbing not one but two Munros this year.
And she's not doing it alone - for Rhona Baillie, 59, is tackling her first Munro with her Romanian rescue dog, Harriet, as her companion.
Rhona will be raising vital funds for The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, where she is at the helm, in the process.
It is part of a year-long campaign - #GoGold for Glasgow’s Hospice - which encourages people of all ages and all abilities to pick any challenge and get sponsored to help raise vital funds for Glasgow’s Hospice.
Rhona told Lanarkshire Live: “Since we launched the campaign at the beginning of the year we have been encouraging people to take on a challenge and help raise vital funds for the hospice.
"I’m a firm believer in not asking anyone to do something you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself.
"So I’ve set myself this challenge and with restrictions on travel easing I thought this would be the perfect time to get in training and start getting sponsorship for climbing my first Munro."
Former nurse, Rhona is looking forward to bagging her first Munro with her furry companion .
A confirmed dog-lover, Rhona with her husband, Jim, organised Harriet’s adoption through Scruffy Dog Rescue.
The hospice is also dog-friendly, with patients able to bring their pets into their rooms for visits.
Rhona went on: “I am planning on completing my Munro challenge in June with Harriet, all going well. But I am also planning on bagging a second Munro as part of a larger Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice team.
“I am so proud of the care we provide at the hospice. I’ve been chief executive here for 15 years and every day I see the impact of the care our staff provide to patients and their families.
"Hospice staff provide compassionate care to terminally ill patients and their families both in the hospice and in patients’ homes. This vital service costs more than £13,000 each day and is only part funded by the NHS.
“As a charity the hospice relies on public donations and fundraising to keep these services going. And with the pandemic affecting how the hospice is able to raise funds, #GoGold is a way in which people can take on a challenge, any challenge and get sponsored for Glasgow’s Hospice.”
Rhona admits it will be quite a challenge to take on the Munros: “I haven’t been able to keep as fit as I normally would due to the lockdown restrictions, although I have always enjoyed my walks with Harriet," she continued.
"We are just going to push ourselves a bit further and a bit higher.”
Rhona added: “We are so grateful to everyone who has taken on a challenge so far.
"The hospice is a very special place with staff who provide the best care possible for people when they need it most. We need you to help us so we can keep on caring."
You can sponsor Rhona on GoFundMe by clicking here.
Or take on your own challenge by visiting the campaign’s website for ideas on challenges and get inspiration from other people’s fundraising activities.
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