Catriona has battled through being born with cerebral palsy to learn to walk, ride a bike and to ski. She even represented her primary school team at netball. She has been an inspiration to others in more ways than one; during the last three years of secondary school, she mentored others who were suffering from similar experiences that she went through, in order to improve their lives.
On a bright Thursday morning the baton marked the half-way point in its 40 day adventure around Scotland with trip through the county of Moray. The county is nestled between the Highlands and Aberdeenshire and provided some picturesque surroundings for the Day 20 of the Queen’s Baton Relay.
It was thrilling start to the day as the baton was winched from an RAF rescue helicopter onto an RNLI lifeboat before being brought ashore at RAF Lossiemouth. One of the main functions of the base is to provide search and rescue operations to those needing assistance in the choppy Moray Firth.
Arriving safely back on terra firma, the relay team then set off to Buckie and ventured across the entire regions passing through towns and villages including Cullen, Fochabers, Mosstodloch, Lhanbryde, Lossiemouth, Hopeman, Kinloss, Forres and Elgin.
The day was crammed with astonishing batonbearers, with over 100 of some of Moray’s most community-minded residents receiving the honour of carrying the symbol of the Commonwealth.
One such carrier was Catriona Anderson. Catriona was born with cerebral palsy which can make physical activities very challenging. However Catriona didn’t let her condition hamper her desire for an active lifestyle and she learnt to walk, ride a bike and ski. Now in secondary school, Catriona, mentors others suffer with similar experiences in order to improve their lvies.
Baton carriers across all age ranges were represented today. Following young Catriona was Dorothy Bremner. Dorothy or Dot was the eldest runner from Moray today aged 75. Dot is a champion for older people in Moray, encouraging them to get active. Despite suffering from hearing and sight issues Dot leads exercise workshops for the elderly and is a vital part of her community.
The hardy spirit of the Moray batonbearers was evident throughout the day. Andrew Wonnacott has been running since he was 17 years old. In that time frame, he’s run nine marathons and over one hundred 10k races. Five years ago he was diagnosed with debilitating osteoarthritis in his knee. How did Andrew react? To set himself the target of running 50 marathons by the time he reaches half a century of age in three years’ time.
Team Scotland athletes also featured as the Queen’s Baton passed through Moray, Scottish hockey internationalist Nikki Kidd and sprinter Kathryn Evans who ran in her home town of Lossiemouth. Donald McIntosh, a stalwart of Scottish shooting who served as Head Rifle Coach for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, drew the day to a close by bringing the baton into Elgin.