Organisers have hailed the second Kiltwalk event of the year a success, despite the weather, after almost 2,000 walkers helped raise funds for children's charities
Nearly 2,000 walkers took to the streets of a wet and cold Edinburgh on Sunday for The Kiltwalk’s biggest event of the year.
The 26-mile fundraising trek was started at BT Murrayfield Stadium by seven year-old Aine McDermott (pictured), whose friends and family have raised more than £50,000 through taking part in Kiltwalks.
Little Aine, who has a rare condition which means she stops breathing when she sleeps, was there for the first few hundred yards with her brothers and sisters before being collected by her grandparents and taken to join the six-mile wee walk.
Mum Leah Forbes, from Penicuik, Midlothian, said: “It was absolutely amazing starting at Murrayfield with Aine, the team and the other kids.
“It was so special for us and marked the start of a really amazing Kiltwalk day.”
This, our second Kiltwalk of the year, has been another fantastic day. Every single walker who took part in the walk through Edinburgh has been a hero
The Kiltwalk’s Chairman Michael Ure said: “This, our second Kiltwalk of the year, has been another fantastic day.
“To have Team Aine lead the way was wonderful as they have been true ambassadors of everything The Kiltwalk stands for.
“But every single walker who took part in the walk through Edinburgh has been a hero.
“All their efforts will contribute greatly towards helping improve the lives of vulnerable children across Scotland.”
This was The Kiltwalk’s third sponsored walk round the streets of the capital city raising funds for children’s charities.
This year walkers were raising funds for Children 1st, Barnardo’s, Capability Scotland, It’s Good 2 Give, the STV Appeal and the Daily Record and Sunday Mail Centenary Fund.
Those in teams of five or more also raised money for other organisations close to their hearts including the 32-strong Team Jak, who walked in memory of Jak Trueman, the 15 year-old from West Lothian who died of a rare form of cancer in February this year after raising thousands for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
Team Jak were raising funds to fulfil Jak’s last wish which was to build a centre for sick children and youngsters called Jak’s Den.
Lara Haken, a friend of Jak’s family who organised the team, said: “We are so honoured to have been able to take part in the Kiltwalk today in memory of an extraordinary young man like Jak and to help make sure his final wishes come true
“It has been so lovely to see everyone out in their kilts despite the weather and especially to see my daughter Ella and her friend Freya Harness.
“They are just 10 and 11, the youngest taking part in the half walk and I think that’s a tremendous achievement.”
The remaining Kiltwalks this year are the Aberdeen Kiltwalk on 7 June, the Perth Kiltwalk on 8 August, the Speyside Kiltwalk on 30 August and the Dundee Kiltwalk on 20 September.
