SUFFERING a broken leg while hillwalking might sour the activity for some – but not Douglas Greig.
Instead, it inspired him to even greater heights and an impressive fundraiser for the mountain rescue team he is so full of praise for.
Readers might be more familiar with Greig’s Twitter alter ego, Jum Murphy. Having quit smoking last year, he took to the hills in a bid to lose weight.
“Until about a year ago I wasn’t outdoorsy at all,” the 59-year-old explained. “It was a means of getting my fitness back. Which I had done up until February.”
Walking between Dollar and Glendevon, he slipped on black ice, breaking his left leg. A passer-by contacted mountain rescue, who were on the scene fast and “tremendous” in helping Greig.
"I was walking on my own and somebody came across me almost immediately contacted police, mountain rescue, they turned up fairly quickly," he said.
"There was a helicopter, but thankfully the mountain rescue guys were able to release that. It wasn't necessary. They gave me painkilling stuff, put my leg in a splint and got me into the back of a landrover.
"Malcolm, the medic with the mountain rescue, was tremendous."
He spent eight nights in hospital, but did not forget the help he had received. By August, Greig felt he would soon be fit enough to do the West Highland Way, raising money for Ochils Mountain Rescue Team.
It was the furthest walk he had done and on new terrain, but having set off on October 5, he finished the six-day event right on time.
He explained: “You’ve got to have a bit of positivity. When the weather turned against me it wasn’t good, but I’ve got decent gear, and the waterproofs did their job.”
Greig has already passed the £1000 mark in his fundraiser – but there is still time left to help the pro-independence activist reach his target of £1200.
“It’s very humbling,” he said of the donations. “People who I met on the walk have donated, people I have no idea who they are have donated – I think Twitter has been amazing.
"Jeane Freeman, who I’ve never come across but admire greatly, has donated – I’m just in awe of the people that have given me money. It’s a fantastic cause, and people have donated because of that.
"Mountain rescue go out in all weathers to rescue people. They don’t judge in any way, they just go out and put their own lives at risk to rescue people."
Greig is not letting the momentum pass either, bagging his first Munro – Ben Chonzie – last weekend.
You can support his fundraiser at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/douglasgreig1.
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