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Martin Moran Foundation
Inspiring people through the power of mountain adventure, climbing and community in wild places.
Martin Moran Foundation, Cairngorms.
We’re proud to support the Martin Moran Foundation, launched in 2021 to support 16 to 18-year-olds from diverse backgrounds to pursue adventure in the mountains.
Martin Moran was a true legend of British Mountaineering. Perhaps best known for his record-breaking efforts on the Cuillin Ridge and the winter Munros, Martin’s mountain career included over 40 exploratory and pioneering expeditions in the Himalaya and over a hundred first ascents of new summer and winter routes in Scotland. Since his passing in 2019, Martin’s family have been working to establish a charitable foundation to carry forward his belief that the joy of mountaineering should be an experience open to everyone – no matter where they come from.
Dedicated to promoting the positive impact of mountain adventure on young people’s mental health and wellbeing, the Martin Moran Foundation provides all-expenses-paid training programmes for 16 to 18-year-olds across the UK who are passionate about the outdoors and who wouldn’t otherwise have the support or resources to experience mountain adventure. Led by expert British mountain guides and instructors who knew and climbed with Martin, the courses will equip the young adventurers with the essential skills, safety training, kit and confidence to explore the mountains.
The Programme
With the help of teachers and leaders from schools and organisations across the UK, the foundation offer fully-funded places on their programmes to any young adult who has a passion for the mountains but may not have the support and financial resources to access them.
The foundation provides everything from travel and accommodation, through to clothing, boots and gear required for a safe and enjoyable day of climbing. These items are gifted to the participants at the end of the programme in order to support their continued passion and pursuit of adventure.
The Martin Moran Round
In August 2022, athlete Robin Downie became the first person to complete the 'Martin Moran Round', an endurance race through the NW Highlands of Scotland, all in support of the Martin Moran Foundation.
Robin completed the 90 km, and 8,890m in ascent, including 9 Munros and 6 Corbetts, in an astounding time of 20 hours 51 minutes. The total elevation covered on this new course is 8,890m (29,166 ft), over the height of Everest, in one non-stop push through the Highlands most rugged and challenging mountain landscapes.
Inspired by the local mountains of his youth and Martin's own record breaking Munros round back in 1984, Robin dreamt up this epic challenge to raise funds for the Foundation and push his own personal limits.
'These were Martin's local hills, he knew them better than anyone and shared them with many of us throughout his life. Martin spent lots of time investing in the community he lived in, especially in the young people. Hearing about his adventures and reading his books has inspired me to push and challenge myself even further in my love for hill running.'
Kit List
As part of our commitment to support the Martin Moran Foundation, Mountain Equipment will supply each young person attending the course with a selection of kit and clothing to keep them warm and dry as they discover all that the mountains have to offer.
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Martin Moran Foundation, Ben Macdui
Island Munros Triathlon
On Sunday the 22nd August, Alex Moran and Mike Coppock completed the first ever non-stop Island Munros Triathlon in 32 hours and 22 minutes. Scaling all 13 Munros, 6461m of ascent and 309 km of distance between them.
Congratulations Alex and Mike for completing this impressive feat in less than ideal conditions!
All proceeds from the triathlon went towards helping young people facing barriers to experience their mountain adventure programme in October 2021.
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Martin Moran Foundation, Ben Macdui
Ambassadors on what the foundation means to them
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Dave MacLeod
"I grew up in inner city Glasgow in an environment where most kids had no opportunity to experience natural spaces or try outdoor sports. I had the good fortune to experience mountains at age 14 and it transformed my life. Even a single experience of mountains can change children’s lives, expand their horizons and bring lifelong happiness. For that reason I’m delighted to support the Martin Moran Foundation in showing disadvantaged young people that opportunity.
Martin Moran spent his life taking people into the mountains and enthusing about them in his writing. His books on the Munros and winter mountains were the first I picked off the shelf in my local library as a kid with only a spark of an interest in hills that came from a single day out..."
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Uisdean Hawthorn
"The mountains bring me focus in a way nothing else in life can, I'd be a very different person without them. Martin's climbing always inspired me to go and have a real adventure. When repeating his winter climbs in Scotland I'd often find myself wondering just how wild it would have been to be questing up here on the first ascent. My first trip to the Himalayas in northern India was partly because of Martin's exploration in the area and his vivid descriptions of endless adventures still to be had there. It's amazing to see opportunities being offered to those who have a barrier between them and the mountains."
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Tom Livingstone
"Martin’s enthusiasm for - and experience within - the mountains is famous. With a passionate energy, he climbed around the world for decades. Equally celebrated is Martin’s spirit for introducing others to this magical world. This charity aims to inspire and elevate young people to discover the riches of climbing, and remove barriers to access - missions I completely support. These initiatives are the best ways to get into climbing and I’m happy to be involved."
