A RETIRED doctor from Basingstoke put his physical strength to the test when he took part in a thrilling 55-mile challenge through the Scottish countryside.

Dr Keith Thomson joined three retired doctor friends to complete the Rob Roy Challenge on Saturday, June 20, covering 16 miles on foot and 39 miles on a bike.

The doctor appeared in The Gazette just a few weeks ago having been awarded a Basingstoke A Place to be Proud of Award for his dedication to raising funds to help save or improve the lives of others.

His latest challenge was to raise money for Mercy Ships, Barnardo’s and Over the Wall.

Dr Keith, who retired from his job as a consultant anaesthetist at Basingstoke hospital last year, has worked in Africa for Mercy Ships to give medical aid to those who need it the most.

The 67-year-old managed to raise £4,000 through the Rob Roy Challenge, which will be divided between the three charities.

The team, called The Over Sixtys, managed to complete the endurance test in 11 and-and- a-half-hours, walking from Drymen, which is just north of Glasgow, to Callander, where they picked up their bikes for the final 39 miles to Kenmore, at the east end of Loch Tay.

Dr Keith said: “The first half of the biking was tough but with spectacular scenery along undulating forest trails. The final 18 miles were along a minor road along the whole length of Loch Tay.

“We were incredibly lucky with the weather – not hot, not cold, no rain and no wind. The volunteers manning the checkpoints and water stops did have a hard time because of a myriad of midges!

“Some training in advance seemed to have paid off – we did the 50 mile plus Cateran Trail in Scotland in three days over the early May bank holiday and part of the Coast to Coast from Sharp to Richmond two weeks later. We also did a 45km bike ride around Windsor Great Park.”

Far from taking a well-deserved break following the physical challenge, Dr Keith is now preparing for his next mission.

He will take part in the Vitality British London 10k on July 12, to help pay for the costs of surgery for 600 young women on board the Africa Mercy Ship in Madagascar.

To sponsor Dr Keith visit www.justgiving.com/drkeithrunslondon10k.