A former soldier from Muir of Ord who lost both legs when his armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan is taking part in another endurance event.
Scottish platoon sergeant, Duncan Slater, became the first double amputee to ski to the South Pole in 2013 in an expedition, which was led by Prince Harry.
He made the record books again last month when he completed the 156-mile Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert, dubbed the “toughest race on Earth”.
Now, he is preparing for a unique endurance event on Armed Forces Day at the end of June when the Queen opens up her 50,000-acre royal estate for Walking with the Wounded’s Balmoral Challenge.
Sgt Slater, who helped organise the event, said: “It is just great that Her Majesty has given her permission.
“It’s an amazing place with a dramatic landscape and finishing in front of the castle will be very special. It will be a great way for people to show their support for our veterans.
“I am hoping to complete the most difficult route, over the mountains, to show that prosthetics do not have to hold you back. I have skied to the South Pole, completed a series of marathons in the desert and now I am going to climb mountains.”
The Walking with the Wounded Balmoral Challenge will include a Triple Crown route of 20miles over three Munros, a Prince’s Stone course calling on teams to think strategically and pick up as many points as they can within a time limit, and a “family” route for over-12s through the forests above the castle.
