All connected with the GWC were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Melainey in a horrific road accident on Friday 28th December. With her mother, Catherine, she was returning back to Brora from a shopping trip to Inverness when the accident happened. Catherine survived the crash, but remains in the intensive care unit at Raigmore Hospital.

36 year old Melainey, a cousin of GWC organiser Mairi MacKenzie, had been a regular catering assistant at the Challenge since the late eighties, a fantastic personality whose laughter and wit never failed to inspire those around her. She was employed as a MacMillan nurse at Raigmore Hospital, specialising in breast cancer. Colleagues there have paid tributes to her professionalism, sense of humour and the obvious affection all her patients had for her.

Over 500 mourners paid their respects at her funeral service at Brora on Saturday (12th January), a testimony to her popularity and respect from everyone who knew her. Our collective thoughts are with her father John and brother David in Brora, and Catherine as she continues her fight for life in hospital.

The GWC committee also send their sincere condolences to Mr Barry Copeland from Montrose, who tragically lost his wife Ann and daughters Niamh (10) and Ciara (7) in a similar road accident on Wednesday 9th January. Barry competed in the 2006 13mile race.