AN ARROCHAR woman has set herself the challenge to walk the West Highland Way to raise money for a motor neurone disease (MND) charity in memory of her dad.

Leanne Barclay-Brennan will complete the 96-mile walk over five days to raise money for the Euan MacDonald Centre after they supported her dad, Sandy Barclay, when he was diagnosed with MND aged just 54.

Sandy worked for the Royal Navy as a submariner and then as a Warrant Officer before retiring and moving to Ballater in Aberdeenshire.

Leanne told the Advertiser: “No one saw it coming at all, as no one ever does, but he dealt with it. He was a brave man.

“It’s quite an unknown disease and anyone can contract it.

“The cause and the cure are unknown but the Euan MacDonald Centre are doing a great deal of amazing work to find a cure.

“Every penny counts because it all makes a difference.”

Leanne was inspired to complete the West Highland Way to mark the tenth anniversary of Sandy’s death.

“We used to go hill walking and talked about doing the West Highland Way together,” she said.

“But we never got round to it.

“But my dad had done it before and raised money for a lot of charities.

“It’s a challenge, and I will be chuffed if I do it.

“I will be really proud if I raise a good amount of money for the charity. And I’ve heard you meet a lot of folk along the way, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Although Leanne will be doing the walk alone, she plans to meet her husband Andy at the end of each day.

She added: “He will be meeting me at the end of the five nights, so he’s going to meet me and rub my feet, support me and motivate me.

“I’m looking forward to the fifth day. I have a lodge booked with a jacuzzi and a fridge full of prosecco.

“That will be my goal - just to think ‘prosecco fridge, prosecco fridge’!”

Leanne is hoping to raise as much money as possible and has already raised £1,000 through her fund-raising page.

“I feel like I’m being greedy asking people,” she said, “but it’s not for me, it’s for a good cause.”

You can donate online at justgiving.com/fundraising/leanne-barclay-brennan.