A RETIRED scientist from Maxton is set to follow in the footsteps of saints and pilgrims in a bid to boost a deserving Borders charity.

And it all came about through a chance meeting on the top of Ruberslaw.

Tom Veitch will attempt the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago later this month - crossing some of the highest mountain passes in Europe.

And every step will help raise funds for The Border Holiday Group.

The 66-year-old told the Border Telegraph: “I have been doing long walks like the West Highland Way and Pennine Way for a few years but I had never heard of this walk until I met a man from Hawick on top of Ruberslaw. He told me what a great challenge it is, I went home and researched it on the internet, and here I am, about to fly out to France.

“I learned about the Border Holiday Group as it was the Maxtion 21’s chosen charity two or three years ago. They do a fantastic job, taking local people who are sick or disabled on foreign holidays.” A group of 24 Borderers with disabilities and serious illnesses are taken on holiday by the charity.

The bus tour, which is usually to a venue in Austria, Germany or Switzerland, includes full medical cover and an assigned helper for each 'tourist’. But the tours come at a cost with the Border Holiday Group needing to raise around £26,000 for each trip.

Tom continued: “A lot of people take going on holiday for granted but this charity allows people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go abroad enjoy that experience.

“It is a fantastic charity and I hope that I can help by raising plenty of money.” The former oil refinery scientist will take his first steps out of St Jean de Port, in southern France, on Tuesday, April 29.

He will follow the St James’s Way, known locally as El Camino de Santiago, for the next 25 or so days until reaching Santiago in north-west Spain. Pilgrims have been following the trail through the Pyrenees since medieval times.

And the perilous journey across mountain ridges and passes is as popular as ever with Christians.

But the 500-mile route that Tom is embarking on will still challenge him to the limits as he faces gruelling climbs, altitude sickness and the possibility of avalanches.

He added: “I’m expecting a bit of discomfort, some blisters, sore feet and muscles during the trip but believe it or not it’s for my own satisfaction and enjoyment.

“The Borders Holiday Group are bringing much appreciated enjoyment to members of the Scottish Borders community who endure much more than a little discomfort each day.” The Border Holiday Group has set up a MyDonate page for anyone to give sponsorship of Tom’s El Camino challenge.

It can be found at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/tomveitch1#.