Mark Beaumont gears up for Arran to Aberdeen adventure for STV Appeal Record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont is setting off on a challenging cross-country tour of Scotland to raise cash for the STV Appeal. Mark is aiming to travel from Arran to Aberdeen powered by nothing but his own arms and legs, running over mountains and swimming across the open sea along a 230-mile stretch. The route along the Highlands Boundary Fault will take in a six-mile swim from Arran to Bute which has never been achieved before, a crossing of Loch Lomond and ultra-marathon runs across rough country. As part of his preparation Mark visited Youthbuild, a programme run by Action for Children Scotland to help young people in Scotland's most deprived areas find work. He said: "Being involved in the STV Appeal has opened my eyes to the number of children in Scotland who are living in poverty. Youthbuild is a great example of how the money raised is helping to make a real difference in the lives of young people and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to visit the project first hand. The final preparation for my challenge has been going well, but it is still a hugely intimidating task and I will be very relieved when the first few days and the first big open water swim is behind me. I would love to see lots of community support along the route and I hope we can raise as much as possible for this fantastic cause. Elizabeth Partyka of STV Appeal said: "We are so excited to have Mark on board and will be behind him every step of the way. There are lots of opportunities for local communities to get involved and help fundraise for the STV Appeal, and I hope that Mark's involvement will help make this our best year yet. Paul Carberry, Director of Business Development at Action for Children Scotland, said: "At Action for Children Scotland we want to give young people a "foot in the door" - helping them to gain the skills, accreditations and experience they need to secure paid work. The success of Youthbuild just goes to show that, when given the chance, young people can really flourish - 70% of participants go on to secure paid work. We are very grateful for the continued support of the STV Appeal and wish Mark the very best of luck with this massive challenge. To support Mark's challenge and make a donation to the STV Appeal, visit Mark's JustGiving page or text BEAU87 with the amount to 70070. You can also follow the journey on the STV Appeal Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #MarkAppeal. More About STV Appeal