I took up running a few months ago in order to get fit, and - to be honest - it was pretty hard going at the start, but I have now passed the proverbial lampost and am aiming to take part in my first ever offical event...the Inverness Half Marathon!

Training is going well, I'm currently running 6 miles twice a week, plus a longer run at the weekends (which will keep getting longer until race day :D).

I'm running for the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA).

These guys/gals and their dogs are volunteers who give up their time to help Police and Mountain Rescue teams search for lost/injured hillwalkers and missing people.

Each SARDA member puts months of their time into training the pups to air-scent and themselves to be good handlers. They respond to call-outs at all times of day or night (often going out near the end of the day in tricky weather conditions). Over the years SARDA handlers and their dogs have saved many lives by dramatically shortening search times.

They need our support for key equipment to keep both handler and dog safe. Here is some of the equipment SARDA members carry, over and above a normal Mountain Rescue team member's kit:

Light sticks - put on the dogs at night so they can be seen
Blankets - keep the dogs warm after an exhausting search
Bootees - sometimes used to protect paws
Collapsible drinking bowl - usually only used in the summer
Dog toy - used as a motivational aid (this is how the dogs are trained to search)
Dog jacket - holds fluorescent sticks to keep the dog visible at night, or in some cases LED cycling lamps
Crate - the back of the handler's car protects their dog during travel
Dog first aid - in adition to the handler's first aid kit: bandages; pads; snake antivenom
Whistle - used along with shouts, visual signals (to ensure each search area is covered thoroughly)
Harness - with bell and attachment for helicopter winching

Why I'm running specifically for SARDA:

Last month a friend of mine, Graham Paterson of Carbost, Skye, lost his life on the Black Cuillin ridge. Hopefully, with your support, we can raise some money to support one of the organisations that were involved in bringing him back down off the hill. Graham - who was a mountain guide - once said to me "Why run? That's just ruining a good walk!". I hope he won't mind me 'ruining' a half marthon :)

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