A Statistician who spends her days crunching numbers at a desk is set to crunch a different sort of number. Statistician, Fiona Tweedie, has set herself the challenge of running 500km in a bid to raise funds for Compassion UK. Fiona said: “I was always the person picked last for school teams at gym, and started running just a few years ago. I’m not at all fast, but I like running in the hills, slowly, a long way. It’s some time to be with God, and away from other distractions. I get to see beautiful views in the Pentland Hills near my home and listen to the birds and marvel at God’s creation.”
Fiona has already covered over 327km since the start of May and is helping to raise money for a project building a youth resource centre in Togo’s capital, Lomé. Togo is 500km long from north to south, inspiring Fiona’s chosen distance. She hopes to raise £1000.
Since the early 2000’s Fiona and her family have sponsored around 30 children through Compassion UK, in countries all across Asia, South America and Africa. She said: “We’ve sponsored over 30 children now (I think!) and there’s been a wonderful variety. I used to be a university lecturer, and I know the importance of education in young people’s lives. But so many are unable to continue due to a lack of resources or access to the resources they need. I know that young women and girls are particularly disadvantaged and I wanted to do something to help them.”
On the 21st July, Fiona will embark on her longest distance in one go yet – St Cuthbert’s Way Ultra, around 66 miles/100km.
Follow Fiona’s progress and donate to her cause here.
Main Photo Credit: George Clerk via Getty images.
