Ahead of Scotland’s next Six Nations championship-chasing clash at Scottish Gas Murrayfield next weekend, former captain Stuart McInally has urged the country to get behind a challenge of a different kind at the iconic national stadium.
Stuart (35), who ran out wearing the thistle at Murrayfield 49 times, has backed Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance’s (SCAA) Stadium Takeover on Saturday, May 16, which will see supporters tackle a 98ft abseil from the roof to the pitch side and/or an endurance-testing stairclimb involving up to 7,500 stadium steps.
SCAA is hoping to attract thousands to the unique challenge and raise vital funds to support the life-saving work of the country’s only charity-funded air ambulance service.
And the former Edinburgh and Scotland hooker says that if participants can overcome their fears at Murrayfield, they will not only feel the thrill of success but also help to save lives.
“Murrayfield held all my greatest fears but also realised my dreams,” he said. “If people are willing to sign up for SCAA’s stadium fundraiser, they can face Murrayfield’s challenges head-on and create memories of achievements that will last a lifetime.
“The abseil will be thrilling and I’ve tackled the muscle-burning stairclimb numerous times during training,” he added. “Face your fears and the reward will be well worth the effort.”
Stuart, who begins his new career as a pilot with a major UK passenger airline next month, carried out his commercial flight training at Perth Airport, home to SCAA and the base for one of the charity’s two helicopter air ambulances.
“I used to watch the helicopter come and go, knowing that it was heading to someone in desperate need – seriously ill or injured somewhere in Scotland,” said Stuart. “Every flight I witnessed could have proved life-saving for someone and I had huge respect for the pilots and paramedics taking to the skies in all weathers.”
Stuart’s two great loves of rugby and aviation have now combined at Murrayfield as SCAA touches down with its largest ever mass participation fundraising event. And he is appealing to supporters to ‘do it for Scotland’.
“SCAA has flown to the aid of rugby players injured in matches throughout Scotland as well as thousands of men, women and children whose lives are impacted by illness and accident in life-threatening incidents every day,” he said.
“SCAA is there for all of us - they’re asking that Scotland is now there for them.
“I’ve heard Murrayfield roar in support of their rugby heroes – it would be great if people roared their support of their SCAA heroes at the stadium on May 16 and raised as much money as possible for this absolutely vital charity. Come on Scotland!”
Learn more about SCAA’s Stadium Takeover and how to sign up for the Murrayfield challenge at:
https://www.scaa.org.uk/support-us/events/scaa-stadium-takeover/
