Tyne and Wear local to tackle 16 summits for SSAFA

11 March 2020

Tyne & Wear local, Iain McCutcheon, is set to tackle 106 miles of the Brecon Beacons in April, including 16 summits, to raise funds for the Tyne & Wear branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Iain plans to complete the mammoth expedition in just four days at the end of April 2020. The route will start at Llanvihangel Crucorney and end at Glanaman. On the second day, Iain will attempt to complete the ‘Fan Dance’, a notorious part of the UK Special Forces selection. This includes an additional 16-mile run which must be completed in three hours and 40 minutes.

The Tyne & Wear local hopes to raise £2,500 for SSAFA. Iain has been personally affected by the loss of friends or family through conflict or as a result of PTSD following a career in the Forces.

The way most civilians see veterans is a sad testament to the lack of public awareness surrounding them. Not all soldiers are superhuman, they are simply human and people who do an amazing job under immense pressure.

Charities like SSAFA are raising awareness of these hardships. I cannot serve in the military due to medical reasons but feel that we can serve indirectly by raising as much money as possible for SSAFA so they can support our military community.

- Iain McCutcheon

We are so grateful that Iain is raising money for SSAFA through this incredibly challenging expedition. The money raised will go a very long way in helping us support the military community in the Tyne & Wear area.

- Susanna Duffy, Branch Secretary, SSAFA Tyne & Wear