WELCOME TO TRAVISTREK HOME OF LEGENDS

The tremendous success of Travis Trekking has ensured we have been lucky enough to sponsor and name 19 very special Guide Dogs , from wee bundles of fur to becoming an integral part of a blind person’s life somewhere in the UK.

Since after our first trek, The West Highland Way we named the sponsored pups after either a big supporter in that particular event of someone special in the life of Scott and the gang.

The West Highland Way pups were named Suzie and Lemmy.

Thanks to Suzie McGuire from Radio Clyde in Glasgow we got plenty air time and loads of publicity, Suzie even ensured that we had transport home from Fort William, after leaving home with nothing arranged, we’ll always be grateful to Suzie for that one! She was even such a supporter that she came along to our after trek party heavily pregnant (check the photo;) to MC it and bring along a whole load of raffle prizes from the station that has helped us so much!

Lemmy was named after the superstar rocker from Motorhead, the kind of music Scott says is “very motivational and gets you out of bed in the morning” many might disagree lol; We were lucky enough to meet Lemmy backstage at the world famous Barrowland in Glasgow after a gig. Lemmy proved to be a very intelligent man a big dog lover and was over the moon with the framed print we presented him with of his 4 legged namesake!

The Speyside Way seen us name 3 pups. With Clyde FC being big supporters, the then management team of Graham Roberts and Joe Miller helping promote our trek and also give the Travis Trek fund a very kind donation from the players kitty it was only right that a pup should be name Clyde.

With many a tune going through Scott and the team’s heads as they trekked up all along the Speyside Way to the fishing town of Buckie there were many memorable songs.

One of the soundtracks of the trek was without a doubt “Dignity” by Deacon Blue, with lead signer Ricky Ross kindly coming along to the after trek party we dedicated “Blue” the pup to this iconic Scottish band.

Another band whose songs stuck in the minds of the trekkers were the Stereophonics, we therefore named “Kelly” in dedication to the lead signer of the Welsh rockers, Kelly Jones.

The Southern Upland Way challenge seen 2 further pups being named. With fantastic support coming from Radio Clyde’s breakfast DJ, George Bowie, who kindly came along to the end of trek party, invited us into the station to be interviewed and helped promote this event we named “Bowie” in tribute to George’s help. The now patron of Travis Trek has become such a legend with everyone he has met over the last couple of years and become such an integral part of Travis Trek, helping out whenever and wherever he can, it was an honour for us to name “Arthur” the pup in tribute to the former Rangers and Holland great. Arthur has done so much to help promote the events and again taking time out to take part on day 1 of this year’s event, he has shown exactly why he is such an ambassador for the game of football and a true gentleman.

The Pennine Way seen 2 pups being named after our 2 main big supporters and helpers. The Rangers Supporters Trust made it possible for Scott and Travis to launch the trek on the slopes of Ibrox Park, a dream for Scott! After a discussion with the board members of the RST the decision to name the pup after the late great Rangers, Motherwell and Scotland Legend Davie Cooper was taken.

With Thomas and Don from 45 Royal Marine Commando, based at Condor in Arbroath, supplying such support on this epic trek and making it all very possible with no hitches and ensuring we kept to very tight time schedules it was a pleasure to name a pup Condor in dedication to the base. The whole Travis Trek team now have very emotional ties with this elite Regiment of the British military and thank them for such brilliant, professional and efficient support and look forward to their help again this trek.

In 2009, Travis Trek went Walking With Legends as Scott and Travis were joined by many ex- Rangers Players as well as the Royal Marine Commandos on the West Highland Way from north to south. Enough funds were raised for 5 puppies to be named. Tel was dedicated to the legend Terry Hurlock who walked the whole trek and finished up not just in Milngavie but with an additional walk down Paisley Road West and onto the pitch at Ibrox with Scott and Travis to a standing ovation from a full house.

Andy was named after Andy Goram, the Goalie joined the Trek team for part of the way and gave great support for the fundraising.

Billy is named after one of Scott's friends. Billy was not only a massive Travis Trek supporter but also a ski guide with Scott and they enjoyed many a time on the slopes together. Billy Blythe was sadly killed in a car crash 3 years ago and in his memory, Billy the pup was named.

Royal the puppy was named after the Royal Marine Commandos who again, offered invaluable support and organisational help for the Trek. The Fleet Protection Group (FPG) from Faslane joined the Trek this year along with the Marines from 45 & Don was there as always along with the Visibility Team who are based at Rosyth.

The last puppy named was Champ, as Rangers Football Club gave Scott and Travis so much help and support for the Trek, Champ was named in honour of Rangers retaining the SPL League title for 2008-09.

In 2010, the Legends Return. An amazing 6 puppies were to be named this year. And in honour of everyone’s favourite Guide Dog, there is now a Travis junior puppy. The legend of Travis will now live on in his namesake.

As John (Bomber) Brown joined the Trek Team for most of the way this year Scott wanted to name a puppy after him but John said that if he named a dog Bomber, then the poor owner would never get to go on holiday as there was no way of getting past airport security shouting ‘come on Bomber’. John decided to name the puppy Peggy as this was the nickname he had for his daughter who was unwell in her early years but happily fit and well now.

Commando was named in honour of the Royal Marine Commandos who again, like previous years, done a sterling job with the organising and the support they provided.

Due to the incredible support and generosity from the girls at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel during the inaugural Travis Trek Gala Ball held in September we decided to dedicate a pup to them. The girls decided it would be a fitting tribute to one of their colleagues who had sadly passed away recently. The girls will remember Linda with the dedication of the wee pup.

Puppy Orchy was dedicated to the multi award winning Bridge of Orchy Hotel. The Trek team have stayed there for a couple of nights on the last 2 Treks and their hospitality has been amazing. The whole Bridge of Orchy team went out of their way to make sure everyone was looked after and felt more than at home, not to mention how well they fed and watered everyone.

So folks, there you go with the history of the pups we have been lucky enough to sponsor.

We look forward to being able to name and sponsor more pups this time which like what Ike and Travis have done, changed Scott’s life very much for the better.