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The weather remained favourable, despite some of the weather forecasts, and the event was extremely successful. Participants came from a wide geographical area, principally Caithness and Sutherland, but some travelled from further afield including one walker Catherine Miller who had travelled up from Wales to attend.

Gallery - Click through for larger photos from each gallery photo in the section

The route up Ben Hope had been clearly marked out by team members the night before the event and additional water had been carried up to the summit and to an intermediary point.

This good preparation greatly assisted ensuring that the 81 sponsored walkers participating safely scaled Ben Hope and didn't get lost in the low cloud near the summit. Team members were positioned at various points on the mountain to provide any assistance and encouragement that the walkers needed during the day.

Over �7000 has been pledged to the sponsored walkers for completing this event. With gift aid it should mean that over �9000 have been raised by the event, and a raffle was held that generated a further �1000. This total of just over �10 000 will be split evenly between the two charities "Alzheimers Scotland - Action on Dementia" and the "Assynt Mountain Rescue Team" to fund their various activities.

The news of this successful fund raising came on the same day that many of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team members found out that their current team leader, Willie Marshall, shall be receiving an MBE for his services to the communities of the highlands.

The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team & Alzheimers Scotland would like to thank all of the sponsored walkers for their efforts, the people who sponsored them and the people that bought raffle tickets. Both of our charities value your support and commitment.

Next year's annual sponsored walk is likely to be held near Inchnadamph in Sutherland. We hope that many of this year's sponsored walkers will take part again and we always welcome new participants.

You Can Join The Sponsored Walk Up Ben Hope Sutherland
Annual sponsored walk in aid of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team and Alzheimer's Scotland

This years walk (2007) will be the tenth walk held on behalf of both charities and we are looking for more participants looking to help fund raise for these two reputable charities.

This years walk is to take place on Saturday 16th June 2007 on Ben Hope. Ben Hope is Scotland's most northerly Munro (3041 feet, 927m). It will be ascended by the route shown in the attached map. Ben Hope is located some sixty miles west of Thurso and is readily accessible.

There is a good path going all of the way from the car park to the summit of Ben Hope by the route shown. The distance from the car park to the summit is 3.2 km (6.4 km round trip) and involves 914 m (3000 feet) of ascent. The route will be clearly marked out by members of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team to ensure that participants take the right paths.

For all walkers that participate in the walk there will be the 'traditional' wee dram at the end of the walk which this year has been generously donated by Old Pulteney Distillery of Wick.

If anyone is interested in taking part in this challenging sponsored walk, then application forms can be downloaded from the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team website http://www.assynt-mrt.co.uk  or you can request an information pack with the application forms from Innes Beaton at [email protected]

Application forms should be completed and returned by Monday 11th June 2007. On Saturday the 16th June 2007, the walk will start at around 10:30am and it should take in the region of 4 to 6 hours depending on level of fitness and weather. The net proceeds of this year's sponsored walk will be evenly distributed between the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team and Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia.