DOUBLE CHALLENGE IN PERU FOR ALAN

Trekking along the Inca Trail in Peru at altitudes of 14,000ft would be enough to bring most people to their knees.

Martial arts enthusiast Alan Stott intends to round off his marathon hike to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, with a week's training in the art of Choi Kwang-Do in the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Mr Stott, 31, who trains and teaches Choi Kwang-Do at classes in Alford and Strathdon, is walking the Inca Trail in Peru in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust in October 2006.

He became interested in the charity's work, arranging bone-marrow transplants for people with leukaemia and other blood disorders, during the appeal to find a donor for Millie Forbes.

The young woman from Keig, near Alford, died from leukaemia in 2004, but not before she had encouraged hundreds of people, including Mr Stott, to join its register of potential bone-marrow donors.

He needs to raise £3,200 in sponsorship for the Inca adventure and is starting the ball rolling with a parachute jump at St Andrews on September 10. He hopes to persuade colleagues in the building industry and friends in his home village of Alford to support him.

Anyone else who would like to sponsor Mr Stott, or help him with other fundraising ideas, should contact him on 07773 088830 or by e-mail at alan.stott@ckd.org.uk . Donors can also visit www.justgiving.com/incatrail2006

Mr Stott said he would be training hard between now and then to ensure he was fit enough to get to grips with the Korean choi kwang-do teacher in Lima.

"It seemed like a good idea to combine the two and hopefully I'll learn some things I can bring home and teach to people at my classes," he said.

To join the Anthony Nolan register of bone-marrow donors, phone George Walker, regional organiser for the Anthony Nolan Trust, on 01467 629468.

Donside Piper - Friday January 20 2006

Bone Marrow Donor Signs Up For Peru Challenge

TRAIL TREK FOR TRUST

A donside martial arts teacher is to trek his way along Peru's Inca trail in memory of an Alford girl.

Alan Stott, who teaches the Korean martial art Choi Kwang-Do in Alford and Strathdon, is hoping to raise £ 3,200 in sponsorship for the Anthony Nolan Trust (ANT)

Alan became involved in fundraising for the trust during the appeal to find a bone marrow donor for Millie Forbes

The young woman from Keig, near Alford died from leukaemia in 2004, but not before she had encouraged hundreds of people, including Alan, to join its register of potential bone marrow donors.

"I became a donor for the Anthony Nolan Trust after I heard about Millie" said Alan. "I didn't know her personally but was living in Alford at the time and there was a big publicity drive in the village for the donors to come forward. I thought "Why Not" and got on the register with them.

Alan then met George Walker, the Anthony Nolan Trust's regional organiser where he learned about the trek to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

Alan - a former drummer with Banchory Pipe Band - Has already managed to raise £ 850 towards his total through a solo static line parachute jump, which he did in September at St Andrews Skydive Centre. He paid for the training and the jump himself, but the sponsorship went towards his total.

"The jump was excellent" said Alan, 32. "I was put through a days course and jumped from 3500ft. The parachute deploys automatically but I had to control it.

On the Inca Trail, which he will undertake in October 2006, Alan will trek at altitudes of around 14,500ft.

"I've done hikes round scotland before but never abroad and never at altitude" he said. "I have a training plan now and i need to get used to walking on a regular basis again. "I've just spent six days in Barcelona walking for 12-16 hours per day, so that was a good start!" "I'm doing the trek on my own but as part of a team from all over the UK for the Anthony Nolan Trust. It will involve hiking between six and eight hours a day"

Alan will actually spend three weeks in Peru, including one week of martial arts training in the captial, Lima.

Until then, Alan will continue his fundraising, as well as teaching Choi Kwang-Do, at which he is a chief instructor, first degree black belt. As well as teaching the martial art to children, he also trains with adults.

He teaches and trains at Alford Public Hall on Tuesdays and Sundays and teaches at the Lonach Hall, Strathdon on Thursdays.

"as part of the fundraising im hoping to do an abseil in the spring in perth" said alan who has recently moved from Alford to Aberdeen.

"I'll pay for the course and see whether i can raise some more sponsorship through that"

He has also written for sponsorship to companies he deals with through his work as a sales and estimator for national contract flooring company . Veitchi.

The company also has a charity-giving scheme which pays out each february and so he is hopeful of receiving a donation from that.

Anyone who would like to support Alan or help him with fundraising ideas should contact him on 07773088830 or by email at : alan.stott@ckd.org.uk

Any donations to the Anthony Nolan Trust can be left (In a collection can) at Nicol's Outdoor in Main Street, Alford

Donors can also visit www.justgiving.com/incatrail2006

This weekends skydiving experience went really well,

I arrived at SkyDive St Andrews on Friday evening and met up with some of the regulars at the onsite bar before retiring to the bunkhouse.

Saturday consisted of around 6 hours training on site, both theory and practical - some of the drills consisted of jumping out of a mock up plane door, being suspended in a parachute harness and doing a reserve chute deployment drill, hard landing drills - it was really informative and lots of fun learning it.

Unfortunately we didn't get to jump that day as the weather wasn't great and the cloud cover was too low, so it meant that I stayed at the complex for another night, had dinner there and a few more drinks, which led to one of the more experienced jumpers organising a human pyramid in the lounge - sure there are photos taken by someone - lol

Another night in the bunkhouse and the weather on Sunday was great. We had to do a small refresher course first then names went on the board to be flown up to 3500ft for our 1st static line jump.

I was number 3 (out of 4 students) and when my turn was called I sat at the edge of the door of the plane. 3500ft high and only a parachute strapped to my back, when I was called to "GO" I pushed out of the plane and took up the required stable position and started my count - was such a weird experience as for 3 to 4 seconds your in freefall until the chute opens.

Well it opened !!, but had a couple of twists in it which I had to get rid of (easy to do - 2 seconds) and from there it was my ride to the ground - was great, got to fly about in the holding area until you got to 500 ft (altimeter on wrist) then head into the landing area, at 300ft had to turn crosswind then 200ft into the wind. At 10ft you flare (Brake by pulling the toggles down) and you get a nice soft landing to the ground.

Through the course you were also shown how to gather up your parachute for returning it to the packing hall and that was it, first jump done - and I'm returning soon for a second :-)

Many thanks for all that supported and sponsored me for this the monies are all going towards the Anthony Nolan Trust Ultimate Challenge - Inca Trail Trek 2006.

Alan Stott