ACT’s business development and client manager Anna Smrckova is set to hike two Munros later this month to raise funds for a cancer charity.
She is taking part in the annual Glasgow University Munros Challenge, which aims to have as many groups of walkers on the tops of Scotland’s 282 Munros between August 26 and 28.
Anna said: “I am very excited about hiking the two Munros and I can’t wait to get going.”
What is a Munro?
A Munro is defined as a Scottish mountain with a summit of more than 3,000ft (914m). The list of Munros was first identified by Sir Hugh Munro in the late 1800s.
These days the hobby of Munro bagging is very popular and sees walkers aiming to reach the summit of all 282 mountains.
Munros are distributed across the country, from the most southerly, Ben Lomond, on the shores of Loch Lomond, to Ben Hope in Sutherland.
The most westerly Munro is Sgurr na Banachdich on the Isle of Skye and the most easterly is Mount Keen in the Grampian Mountains.
Each Munro walk is very different and while many offer a fairly straightforward hike on a well-trodden path others are remote and extremely challenging.
Anna and Archie on the summit of Ben Lomond earlier this year.
Anna’s Munro Challenge
Anna will be taking part in the Munro Challenge, which is being organised by University of Glasgow to raise funds for cancer research including the Beatson Pebble Appeal, The Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Think Pink Scotland and the Brain Tumour Research Fund.
They hope to record as many Munro summits over the one weekend as possible. The event is open to the wider public, as well as university staff and students.
Anna , her friend Emma Martin and her much-loved dog Archie plan to hike the Arrochar Alp Munros, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain.
Beinn Ime is 1011m and Beinn Narnain is 926m and the route to both these summits is some nine miles with 1,325m of ascent. Anna and Emma hope to complete it in six to seven hours.
Anna, 25, who enjoys spending time in Scotland’s great outdoors whenever she can, is excited about taking part in the Munro Challenge.
She said: “I started walking Munros earlier this year and I have definitely caught the Munro bagging bug.
“I love the breath-taking views in the mountains and I think it will be very motivating to bag another two Munros while raising funds for charity.
“It will be amazing to think that I am part of a large group of people walking Munros over one weekend this summer.”
She has personal reasons for raising funds for The Beatson Pebble Appeal, which supports ground-breaking cancer research at the University of Glasgow.
Anna said: “Cancer affects so many people and I lost my god father to the disease and have also seen friends suffering after losing loved ones. I think the Munro Challenge is a very worthwhile cause and I hope more people will sign up to take part.”
You can support Anna and Emma by pledging a donation to their chosen charity.
