An Inverness minister with a fondness for cake will set off on his bicycle to visit every Church of Scotland in the area today.
Reverend Robert Brookes, 53, admits he is “not the fittest” but hopes to create awareness of the church’s role in society and raise funds for two mental health charities by undertaking the challenge.
The Cawdor, Croy and Dalcross minister will cycle 170 miles within a radius encompassing Dores, Drumndadrochit, Nairn, Daviot and Tomatin.
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He will drop in on 30 churches, ring a hand bell when he’s there and take a selfie photograph to prove that he made it.
Mr Brookes says he has been training for the challenge, but “perhaps not as much as I should”.
He said: “I’m not the fittest. Being a minister, I eat a lot of cake.”
Mr Brookes, who is originally from Newtonmore, said the challenge should take three days – weather permitting.
He added: “I’ll start from my own church at Cawdor, go towards Auldearn, Nairn, Ardersier and Petty, then do all the Inverness churches before heading out to Kiltarility, Kirkhill and Beauly, Struy and Cannich down towards Drumnadrochit.
“Then Dores, Boleskine, Tomatin, Daviot and Dunlichity.
“Someone in a cycling club could do it no problem, but for me it’s a real challenge.”
Mr Brookes takes on different challenges for charity each year.
Last year, he walked from Newtonmore to Cawdor to raise money for the children in his parish, and previously took on “sponsored slim” for the church.
This time he is raising money for Samaritans and Birchwood.
Mr Brookes said: “I used to a be a Samaritan in Inverness and Aberdeen so I know the importance of what the Samaritans do with mental health and suicide.
“I’m also doing this to raise awareness of the importance of church in society.
“My ethos is that I’m the minister to everybody within the parish, whatever their beliefs or thoughts, whether you come to church or not. The church is open to all and there to walk alongside everybody.”
Mr Brookes’ challenge can be supported through Rev Robert’s page on the justgiving website.
