​With Tom Hunter underwriting admin costs, The Kiltwalk can't fail

It was a classic case of a charity becoming victim of its own success and a salutary lesson in bad governance.

If anything The Kiltwalk, despite being one of the nation’s best loved charities, didn’t have the expertise, skills or knowledge at either management or board level to translate its popular support into the right returns for its charity partners.

Instead it became bogged down with administration costs and inflated salaries which couldn’t be justified for an organisation of its size.

Above all else it grew too fast with aspirations which its board couldn’t translate into action.

Inevitably when the media cottoned on to the fact that there were serious governance issues – first exposed in this paper – it was already too late to save a sinking ship.

And it handled it all very badly.

No-one, however, could have foreseen such an epic turnaround. With Tom Hunter’s involvement The Kiltwalk has instantly bought guaranteed success.

The philanthropist – one of Scotland’s richest men – has personally guaranteed to underwrite all operating costs so that every penny goes to its partner charities.

More than this, he brings a wealth of business acumen to the charity as well as contacts.

Hunter didn’t hesitate to enlist his friend of over 25 years, the former Radio Clyde broadcaster Paul Cooney.

Cooney chaired the vastly successful Radio Clyde Cash for Kids fundraiser, which itself has become one of the country’s best loved causes.

So The Kiltwalk’s re-launch is, without any doubt, a phoenix from the flames and the charity now finds itself in a very enviable position.

With Hunter’s considerable backing there’s little doubt public confidence will return and The Kiltwalk will reclaim its place in the nation’s heart.