Gayle Tait took part in the Tor De Geants trail run, a 330km (205-mile) run in September, with the aim of raising funds to improve research and service provision for people living with the condition in Scotland.

The Tor De Geants translates as the “Tour of the Giants”, relating to the highest peaks of the route which the runners must pass.

The Tor De Geants is one of the most challenging trail running events in the world, taking in 25 mountain passes, through 34 villages and covering a total elevation gain of 24,000 metres (78,000 feet).

The tour covers the entire Aosta region in Italy, at the foot of the highest 4,000-metre peaks in the Alps, through the Gran Paradiso and Mont Avic National Parks.

Competitors are limited to just 150 hours to complete the challenge, and required to reach specific checkpoints along the route in a given period of time.

For many competitors, sleep deprivation can be a major challenge, as the clock is still ticking as you sleep, with many participants choosing shorter sleeping patterns to mitigate the time loss.

The risk of falls, injury and illness are also major factors in the race with the likelihood that 50% of participants will fail to finish each year.

More than 1,200 competitors lined up on the start-line for this year’s event, with Gayle being one of only 170 women to take part in the race.

Despite facing many challenges and having to navigate changeable conditions and unpredictable terrain, Gayle completed the event in 137 hours, and to date has raised more than £3,650 for Parkinson’s UK Scotland.

Gayle has now returned to her role as specialist exercise instructor with MorphFit, a local movement and exercise provider for people living with neurological conditions in Hamilton and the surrounding areas.

Speaking about the challenge and the experience of competing in the Tor De Geants, Gayle said: “It is my privilege to lead our Parkinson’s sessions at MorphFit Gentle Movement Project and I get to see first hand the difference that physical activity can make to the lives of people with Parkinson’s - for both their physical and mental wellbeing.

“Their commitment, resilience, and determination to keep turning up and trying hard, is a source of great inspiration to me and I thought about them a lot during the race, and how I wanted to make them as proud of me as I am of them.”

To find out more about Gayle’s challenge and to donate, visit the official JustGiving page.

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